Compare towns
Andover vs Hanover vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Andover | Hanover | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
8,479Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | — | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.