Compare towns
Norwich vs Exeter vs Brookline 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Brookline has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Exeter | Brookline | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Norwich 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanover 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% 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%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Brookline 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.