Compare towns
Hanover vs Portsmouth vs South Hampton 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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Norwich has the most affordable homes ($638k 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 | Portsmouth | South Hampton | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
22,545Highest |
984Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and South Hampton 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Hampton 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. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hanover and South Hampton 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. |
$8,018Lowest 157% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% 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% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 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 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— | — |
| 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.