Compare towns
Madbury vs Norwich vs Hanover vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Norwich has the oldest population (median age 40.8).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
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 | Madbury | Norwich | Hanover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
3,640 |
8,479Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | — | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.