Compare towns
Norwich vs Durham vs Dover 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).
Durham has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Dover | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
10,681 |
33,364Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Dover 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Dover 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above 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. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,249Lowest 164% 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% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | — | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.