Compare towns
Canaan vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Canaan | Hanover | Norwich | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
11,685Highest |
3,640 |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% 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 | $254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| 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.