What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).

Harmony has the most kids (22.9% under 18).

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	Harmony
People
Population	6,882Highest	2,344Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.6±5.5Highest 27% above NY	41.8±7Lowest 5% above NY
	Hanover and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.9%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Harmony and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%	17.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23%Highest NY: 40.2%	17.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Harmony and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,563±$9kHighest 17% below NY	$58,600±$11kLowest 32% below NY
	Hanover and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,500±$16kHighest 67% below NY	$128,300±$15kLowest 70% below NY
	Hanover and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$105Highest 39% below NY	$788±$40Lowest 51% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,881Highest 56% below NY	$2,805Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±22.9Highest NY: 52.1%	43%±18.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hanover and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest NY: 14%	9.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 19% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hanover and Harmony 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	#196 of 484 in NY	—
School district	FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL	PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Highest	8.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.