What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most affordable homes ($142k median).

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Jay
People
Population	6,882Highest	471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±5.5Lowest 30% above U.S.	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Jay and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,563±$9kLowest 11% below U.S.	$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S.
	Jay and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,500±$16kLowest 57% below U.S.	$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$105 30% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,881Lowest 8% below U.S.	$3,588Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.
Work from home	11.5%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jay 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	#196 of 484 in NY	—
School district	FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town	SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3	—
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.