Compare towns
Hanover vs Essex Junction vs Durham vs Windham
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 people working from home (26.4%).
Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% 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.
| Measure | Hanover | Essex Junction | Durham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
10,803Lowest |
15,080 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Essex Junction 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% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Windham 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hanover 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. |
$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,797Lowest 118% 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% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Essex High School | Oyster River High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
12.3 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.