Compare towns
Auburn vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hopkinton has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
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 | Auburn | Hanover | Norwich | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
11,685Highest |
3,640Lowest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45±2.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopkinton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$137,477±$21kLowest 70% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$506,900±$54kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,270±$129Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.