Compare towns
Hanover vs Plymouth vs Lebanon 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).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Plymouth | Lebanon | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
6,601 |
14,999Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lebanon 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 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% |
54%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanover and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% 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. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% 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% |
33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lebanon School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.7 |
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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.