Compare towns
Peru vs Hanover vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Peru | Hanover | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 434Lowest |
11,685Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
| Peru and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peru and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,875±$83k 88% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$105k 20% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$749±$315Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Westminster 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 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.