Compare towns
Norwich vs Lebanon vs Hanover vs Stowe
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 the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Lebanon | Hanover | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
14,999Highest |
11,685 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stowe 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Lebanon 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% 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. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 26% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stowe 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Hanover High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.