Compare towns
Hanover vs Stowe vs Middlesex
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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Stowe | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
5,285 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Middlesex 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% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Hanover 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.