Compare towns
Hanover vs Thornton vs White River Junction
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).
Thornton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Thornton | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
2,799Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Hanover 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% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Thornton 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Hanover 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Thornton School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.