Compare towns

Norwich vs Hanover vs Madbury

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 oldest population (median age 40.8).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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.

MeasureNorwichHanoverMadbury
People
Population
3,640
8,479Highest
2,203Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2Highest
5% above U.S.
21.8±0.3Lowest
44% below U.S.
37.7±2.1
3% below U.S.
Norwich and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
29%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Madbury 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%
17.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanover and Norwich 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%
89.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
49.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kLowest
74% above U.S.
$153,281±$26kHighest
90% above U.S.
$148,365±$30k
84% above U.S.
Hanover and Madbury 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.
$842,600±$97kHighest
153% above U.S.
$476,900±$31kLowest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$2,254±$249Highest
60% above U.S.
$1,574±$759
11% above U.S.
Hanover and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
72%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±3.6Lowest
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 — Oyster River Coop 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.