What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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	Hanover	Westminster
People
Population	14,845Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Westminster and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S.	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S.	$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 200% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster 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	#69 of 282 in MA	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	10.6Highest
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.