Compare towns
Norwich vs Olean vs Dorset 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%).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Dorset has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Olean | Dorset | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
13,738Highest |
2,092Lowest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
39±2.6 about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Olean 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% 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. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$7,489 140% 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%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Hanover 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% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.