Compare towns
Townshend vs Plainfield vs Fairlee 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
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Townshend | Plainfield | Fairlee | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,522Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364 72% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Plainfield School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.