Compare towns
Hanover vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.
| Measure | Hanover | Worcester | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
831Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Norwich School District |
| 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.