Compare towns
Weare vs Plaistow vs Dover vs Gilford
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 people working from home (22.8%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Gilford has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Plaistow | Dover | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
7,861 |
33,364Highest |
7,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Gilford 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Plaistow 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Weare and Gilford 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
| Gilford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Plaistow and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Dover School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.