Compare towns
Cambridge vs Hanover vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Cambridge | Hanover | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,767Lowest |
11,685Highest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 4% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.8±3.3Highest about the U.S. average |
| Fairfax and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$19kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29k 60% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 16% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.