Compare towns

Hanover vs Auburn vs Durham 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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

MeasureHanoverAuburnDurhamNorwich
People
Population
11,685
6,119
15,080Highest
3,640Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
Auburn and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Norwich and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
88.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$153,253±$6k
90% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kLowest
54% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$600,300±$29k
80% above U.S.
$504,300±$41kLowest
52% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,893±$822
34% above U.S.
$1,429±$143Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
Hanover and Auburn 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.
$8,092Lowest
159% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
26.4%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Auburn 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 #44 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Auburn School District Oyster River Coop School District Norwich School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town Oyster River High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
12.3Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 51 photos → 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.