Compare towns
Plaistow vs Dover vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Dover | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
33,364Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Plaistow 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 NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Dunbarton 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 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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 about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Plaistow 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.


