Compare towns
Hanover vs Jaffrey 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).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jaffrey | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
5,448 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Jaffrey 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% |
23.1%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Jaffrey 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% |
18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18kLowest 14% 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. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,196Lowest 99% 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% |
45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 21.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.