Compare towns

Hanover vs Essex Junction vs Hanover

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 homeowners (73.7%).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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.

MeasureHanoverEssex JunctionHanover
People
Population
11,685Highest
10,803
8,479Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
39.3±3.1Highest
about the U.S. average
21.8±0.3Lowest
44% below U.S.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
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%
17.6%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
88.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
49.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$89,257±$16kLowest
11% above U.S.
$153,281±$26k
90% above U.S.
Hanover 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±$61k
148% above U.S.
$407,500±$20kLowest
22% above U.S.
$842,600±$97kHighest
153% above U.S.
Hanover and Hanover 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±$135Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
Hanover and Hanover 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.
$6,797Lowest
118% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
61.3%±14.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Hanover 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%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
26% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
26.4%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover 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 #14 of 70 in VT #1 of 120 in NH
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
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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.