Compare towns
Hanover vs Hartford vs Plymouth 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).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Plymouth has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Hartford | Plymouth | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
10,736 |
6,601 |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Hartford 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% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below 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. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% 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% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Hartford 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #47 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hartford School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Hartford High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.