Compare towns
Hanover vs Hartford vs Williston vs Durham
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Hartford | Williston | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
10,736 |
10,144 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Williston and Hartford 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% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Williston 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest 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±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Durham 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Williston 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.