Compare towns
Hanover vs Williston vs Pomfret 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
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Pomfret | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
10,144 |
908Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.4±12.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±6 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pomfret and Williston 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$84,229±$8kLowest 4% 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±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$399,200±$144kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,170±$98Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,722 116% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Williston 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% 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. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 min 11% 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% |
30.3%±10.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pomfret 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | 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.