Compare towns

Norwich vs Stratham vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($638k median).
Stratham has the oldest population (median age 41.6).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureNorwichStrathamWindhamHanover
People
Population
3,640Lowest
7,754
16,038Highest
11,685
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Highest
7% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
28.7±5.1Lowest
26% below U.S.
Stratham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Norwich 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%
20.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Stratham and Hanover 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%
69.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%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%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
36.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kLowest
74% above U.S.
$151,998±$20k
88% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$169,583±$36k
110% above U.S.
Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kLowest
92% above U.S.
$655,400±$36k
97% above U.S.
$723,300±$50k
117% above U.S.
$824,900±$61kHighest
148% above U.S.
Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Lowest
3% above U.S.
$2,511±$377
78% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,253±$217
59% above U.S.
Windham and Stratham 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.
$9,781Lowest
214% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
64%±38.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±17.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Stratham 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%
2.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
26.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover and Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH
School district Norwich School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Windham School District Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town None in town None in town Windham High School Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8Highest
10.7Lowest
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.