Compare towns
Norwich vs Lyme vs Hartford 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).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Lyme | Hartford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
1,710Lowest |
10,736Highest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Hartford 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hartford 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% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%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% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% 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% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Lyme 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Lyme School District | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.6 |
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| 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.