Compare towns
Norwich vs Lebanon 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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k 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 | Lebanon | Durham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
14,999 |
15,080Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above 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. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149Lowest 161% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.