What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Essex Junction
People
Population	11,685Highest	10,803Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Essex Junction and Hanover 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%	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Essex Junction 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%	52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	61.3%±14.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 26% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 120 in NH	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Hanover High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.