Compare towns
Chittenden vs Hanover vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,318Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% 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% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Strafford School District |
| 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 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.