Compare towns
Norwich vs Ripton vs Mendon 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
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 | Ripton | Mendon | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640 |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
8,479Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Mendon and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Mendon 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±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. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
— | $1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% 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%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Mendon 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 | — | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.