Compare towns
Durham vs Williston vs Durham 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Williston | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
10,144Lowest |
10,681 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 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.