Compare towns
White River Junction vs Hanover vs Portsmouth vs Johnson
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 highest household income ($170k).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Portsmouth | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
11,685 |
22,545Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5 21% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%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% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Johnson 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| 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.