Compare towns
Rochester vs Plainfield vs Dummerston vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Rochester | Plainfield | Dummerston | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,389Lowest |
2,522Highest |
2,090 |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Dummerston 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Plainfield School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.