Compare towns
Norwich vs Barre vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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 | Norwich | Barre | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
8,412 |
8,479Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Barre and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% 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 | $637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 28% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.