Compare towns
Franconia vs Hanover vs Norwich vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Franconia | Hanover | Norwich | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
11,685Highest |
3,640 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Franconia and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96kLowest 59% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Lowest 139% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.