Compare towns
Norwich vs Windham 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
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Hartford | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,640Lowest |
16,038Highest |
10,736 |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Hartford 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
62.7% 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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% 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±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% 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±$322 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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%Lowest 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% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer 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. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Norwich School District | Windham School District | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.