Compare towns

Hanover vs Johnson vs Keene

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Johnson has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Keene has the oldest population (median age 37.6).
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.

MeasureHanoverJohnsonKeene
People
Population
11,685
3,450Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
30.9±6.5
21% below U.S.
37.6±2.3Highest
3% below U.S.
Keene and Johnson 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%
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Keene 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%
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$252,500±$12k
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,310Lowest
6% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±20.8
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Johnson 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%
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #1 of 120 in NH #57 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Keene School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.