Compare towns
Hanover vs Norwich vs Brookline vs Lebanon
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
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 | Norwich | Brookline | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
3,640Lowest |
5,736 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Hanover 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% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanover 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. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149Lowest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #23 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Norwich School District | Brookline School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| 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.