Compare towns
Hanover vs Enfield vs Plainfield 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).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Enfield | Plainfield | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
4,475 |
2,522Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Plainfield 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% |
43%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$95,474±$19kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above 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 | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$390,800±$71kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,181±$563Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,203Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% 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% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Norwich 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.