Compare towns
Plymouth vs Dover vs Kensington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Dover | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601 |
33,364Highest |
2,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dover School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.