Compare towns
Norwich vs Bridgewater 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).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Bridgewater | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,169Lowest |
8,479Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%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% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$398,600±$65kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below 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% |
32.1%±13.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.