What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has the most affordable homes ($319k median).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k 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.

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

Measure	Arlington	Hanover
People
Population	2,598Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	37.6±4Highest 3% below U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Arlington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Arlington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Arlington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,308±$11kLowest 27% above U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,500±$59kLowest 4% below U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,191±$172Lowest 16% below U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Arlington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Arlington and Hanover 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	#50 of 70 in VT	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Arlington School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.