Compare towns
Hanover vs Williston vs Randolph vs Windham
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).
Williston has the oldest population (median age 45.4).
Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% 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 | Randolph | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
10,144 |
4,843Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.4±7.4 4% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Randolph 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% 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% |
11.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% 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. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% 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. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,698Lowest 51% 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% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.1%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Randolph 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Williston 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Randolph Union High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 9.4Lowest |
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.