Compare towns
Norwich vs Bow vs Bedford 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 renters (28.1% rent).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Bedford has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Bow | Bedford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
8,335 |
23,746Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest 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% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hanover 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. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26k 84% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$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. |
$9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% 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% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Bedford 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
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.