Compare towns
Norwich vs Eliot vs Durham 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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Eliot | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
7,146 |
15,080Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above 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. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest 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. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.