Compare towns
Dorset vs Hampton Falls 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
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Dorset | Hampton Falls | Hanover | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
2,328 |
11,685Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kLowest 71% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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 | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
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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.