Compare towns
Hanover vs Plymouth vs Norwich vs Lebanon
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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Plymouth | Norwich | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
6,601 |
3,640Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Lebanon 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% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% 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. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.