What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

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	Fair Haven	Hanover
People
Population	2,724Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±7.6Highest about the U.S. average	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Fair Haven and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Fair Haven and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#66 of 70 in VT	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.7Lowest
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.