Compare towns
Hanover vs South Berwick 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).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | South Berwick | Durham | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
7,670 |
15,080Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Norwich and South Berwick 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% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3 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% |
41.8%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% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% 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. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% 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% |
78.3%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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Marshwood High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.



