Compare towns
Hanover vs Thetford vs Waitsfield
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).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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.
| Measure | Hanover | Thetford | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
2,813 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Thetford 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Waitsfield 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Thetford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.