Compare towns
Norwich vs Braintree vs Castleton 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).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Castleton 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% 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. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.