Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hanover vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Dorchester | Hanover | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
8,479Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kLowest 74% above 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 | $139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.