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 affordable homes ($216k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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.
| Measure | Norwich | Lancaster | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
3,216Lowest |
8,479Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% 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% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | White Mountains Regional 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.