Compare towns

Durham vs Norwich vs Hanover vs Henniker

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 20.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

MeasureDurhamNorwichHanoverHenniker
People
Population
15,080Highest
3,640Lowest
11,685
6,197
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
40.8±3.2Highest
5% above U.S.
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
31.1±6.1
20% below U.S.
Kids under 18
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Henniker 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%
81%
U.S.: 35.7%
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
27%±6.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,056±$21k
54% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$95,206±$21kLowest
18% 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
$504,300±$41k
52% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$356,700±$49kLowest
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
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.
$8,877Lowest
185% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
20 minHighest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
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 70 in VT #1 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Norwich School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District Henniker School District
High school in town Oyster River High School None in town Hanover High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
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10.7Lowest
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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.