Compare towns

Hanover vs Madbury vs Durham 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).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the oldest population (median age 40.8).
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.

MeasureHanoverMadburyDurhamNorwich
People
Population
11,685
2,203Lowest
15,080Highest
3,640
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1
26% below U.S.
37.7±2.1
3% below U.S.
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
40.8±3.2Highest
5% above U.S.
Norwich and Madbury 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%
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Madbury and Norwich 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%
14.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Norwich 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%
52.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
55.1%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$148,365±$30k
84% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kLowest
54% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
Hanover and Madbury 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.
$476,900±$31kLowest
43% above U.S.
$504,300±$41k
52% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,574±$759
11% above U.S.
$1,429±$143Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
Hanover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
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 — #9 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Oyster River Coop School District Oyster River Coop School District Norwich School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town Oyster River High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
12.3Highest
—
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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.