Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Hanover 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
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover has the most homeowners (73.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Essex Junction | Hanover | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803 |
8,479Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61k 148% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Lowest 118% 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 | 61.3%±14.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Hanover 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Essex High School | — | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.