Compare towns
Weare vs Plainfield vs Dover vs Epping
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 affordable homes ($396k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Weare | Plainfield | Dover | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
2,522Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Weare and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Plainfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Plainfield School District | Dover School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 12.7Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.