Compare towns
Hanover vs Waitsfield vs Middlesex
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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Waitsfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,918Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Middlesex 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% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Waitsfield 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | 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.