Compare towns
Hanover vs Dover vs Exeter 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 youngest population (median age 21.8).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Dover | Exeter | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
33,364Highest |
16,151 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Exeter 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% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich 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. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Exeter 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. |
$8,249Lowest 164% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% 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% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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 | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.