Compare towns

Hanover vs South Hampton vs Norwich 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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
South Hampton has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
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.

MeasureHanoverSouth HamptonNorwichLebanon
People
Population
11,685
984Lowest
3,640
14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
45.1±5.3Highest
16% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
South Hampton 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%
23.3%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4
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%
16.5%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
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%
52.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
110% above U.S.
$152,500±$44k
89% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$98,147±$10kLowest
22% 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.
$661,100±$45k
99% above U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$385,400±$29kLowest
16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
59% above U.S.
$1,889±$489
34% above U.S.
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$1,744±$132
23% 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.
$9,109
192% 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%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
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%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3
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 — #1 of 70 in VT #29 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District South Hampton School District Norwich 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.