Compare towns
Durham vs Stowe vs Richmond 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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
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.
| Measure | Durham | Stowe | Richmond | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,285 |
4,159Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Hanover 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% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24k 34% above 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 | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$432,200±$39kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$6,868Lowest 120% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stowe 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Stowe Town School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Stowe High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.