Compare towns
Hanover vs Plainfield vs Meredith 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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Plainfield | Meredith | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
2,522Lowest |
6,758 |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Meredith 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than 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. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Meredith 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.