Compare towns
Plaistow vs Weare vs Dover vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Weare | Dover | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,170 |
33,364Highest |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Weare 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 |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Weare 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±$32k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston 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 |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% 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 | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Dover 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Dover School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.7 |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.