Compare towns
Norwich vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
9,100 |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% 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. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | North Middlesex | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
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.