Compare towns
Norwich vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
8,606 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Norwich 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kLowest 67% 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. |
$519,100±$60kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217 59% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Lowest 132% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hanover 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Hanover 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Nashoba | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.