Compare towns
Hanover vs Lee vs Norwich vs Portsmouth
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Lee | Norwich | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
4,576 |
3,640Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Portsmouth 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% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 32% 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. |
$480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
— | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,018Lowest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.