Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Norwich vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Hanover | Norwich | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
11,685Highest |
3,640 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $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. |
$9,109Lowest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school 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 | 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.