Compare towns
Norwich vs Litchfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k median).
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 | Litchfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
8,499 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
43.1±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Litchfield 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% |
22.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Litchfield 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% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest 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% |
46.7%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% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$162,036±$11k 101% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Litchfield 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. |
$485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,138±$406 51% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Litchfield 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. |
$8,273Lowest 165% 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% |
81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Litchfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Litchfield School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.