Compare towns
Hanover vs Norwich vs Plaistow
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).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
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 | Norwich | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
3,640Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Plaistow 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Plaistow 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% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% 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. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Plaistow 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Norwich School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.