Compare towns
Bedford vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Bedford | Hanover | Norwich | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,746 |
11,685 |
3,640Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38±1 about the U.S. average |
| Bedford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,803 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,922Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bedford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | Bedford High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
10.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.