Compare towns

Hanover vs South Hampton vs Windham 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).
South Hampton has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureHanoverSouth HamptonWindhamNorwich
People
Population
11,685
984Lowest
16,038Highest
3,640
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
45.1±5.3Highest
16% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
South Hampton and Windham 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
16.5%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and South Hampton 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%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%
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%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36k
110% above U.S.
$152,500±$44k
89% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kLowest
74% above U.S.
Windham and Hanover 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.
$723,300±$50k
117% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kLowest
92% above U.S.
Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217
59% above U.S.
$1,889±$489
34% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,109Lowest
192% 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%
30%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
26% below U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Windham 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 — #13 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District South Hampton School District Windham School District Norwich School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
12.8Highest
—
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.