Compare towns
Hanover vs Keene vs Norwich vs White River Junction
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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Keene | Norwich | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
22,939Highest |
3,640 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Keene 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and White River Junction 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below 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. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Keene 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Norwich School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Keene High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.