Compare towns
Plymouth vs Plainfield vs Dover vs Lebanon
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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Dover | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.7 |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.