Compare towns
Keene vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Norwich has the most homeowners (71.9%).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Keene | Hanover | Norwich | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
8,479 |
3,640Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5 5% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Norwich 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | — | Norwich School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | — | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.