Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Exeter | Hanover | Norwich | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
11,685 |
3,640 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$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. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 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.