Compare towns
Norwich vs Bedford vs Pelham 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).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
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 | Norwich | Bedford | Pelham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
23,746Highest |
14,449 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Pelham 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford 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. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% 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% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 70 in VT | #7 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Bedford School District | Pelham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Pelham High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.