Compare towns
Hanover vs Bedford vs Durham vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Durham has the most affordable homes ($504k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Hanover | Bedford | Durham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
23,746Highest |
15,080 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803Lowest 214% 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 | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.