Compare towns
Hanover vs Lebanon vs Sunapee 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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Lebanon | Sunapee | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
14,999Highest |
3,416Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51k 18% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lebanon School District | Sunapee School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Lebanon High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.