Compare towns
White River Junction vs Hanover vs Plainfield vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
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 | White River Junction | Hanover | Plainfield | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
11,685Highest |
2,522Lowest |
6,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5Highest about the U.S. average |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.