Compare towns
Dorset vs Hanover vs Lee 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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Dorset | Hanover | Lee | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
11,685Highest |
4,576 |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Lee 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 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 | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% 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% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.