Compare towns
Plaistow vs Dorset vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plaistow | Dorset | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
2,092Lowest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plaistow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Plaistow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.