Compare towns

Durham vs Johnson vs Hanover

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
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.

MeasureDurhamJohnsonHanover
People
Population
10,681
3,450Lowest
11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
30.9±6.5Highest
21% below U.S.
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
Johnson and Hanover 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%
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.8%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25k
39% above U.S.
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,000±$45k
50% above U.S.
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211
8% below U.S.
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,310Lowest
6% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±19.2
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±20.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
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%
12.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #9 of 120 in NH #57 of 70 in VT #1 of 120 in NH
School district — Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town — None in town Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7
On TownTapestry
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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.