Compare towns
Hanover vs Williston vs Hanover vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Williston | Hanover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
10,144 |
8,479 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bow 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Bow 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±$61k 148% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover 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. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanover 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Hanover 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — | Bow High School |
| 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.