Compare towns
Chittenden vs Hanover vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Chittenden | Hanover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.