Compare towns
Ashland vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Tamworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Tamworth has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Ashland | Hanover | Norwich | Tamworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
11,685Highest |
3,640 |
2,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.6±10.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Tamworth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Tamworth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$68,036±$20k 16% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$366,800±$29k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,110±$184 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,474Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.6%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Tamworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±11.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #101 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | Tamworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.