Compare towns

Hanover vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($303k 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.

MeasureHanoverOrangeNorwich
People
Population
8,479Highest
320Lowest
3,640
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
21.8±0.3Lowest
44% below U.S.
41.3±9.1Highest
6% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
Orange 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%
20.6%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Orange 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%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Orange 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%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
49.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,281±$26kHighest
90% above U.S.
$118,750±$39kLowest
47% 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.
$302,600±$35kLowest
9% below U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
—
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,132Lowest
65% 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%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
Work from home
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.8%±8.9Lowest
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 — #1 of 70 in VT
School district — — Norwich School District
High school in town — — None in town
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.