What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stowe	Hanover
People
Population	5,285Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kLowest 95% above U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
	Hanover and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	20 minHighest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Stowe 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
School district	Stowe Town School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.