What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Murray has the youngest population (median age 40.3).

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	Murray
People
Population	6,882Highest	4,754Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.6±5.5Highest 27% above NY	40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	18%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.5%±4.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Murray 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%	17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%	2.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Hanover and Murray 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	$65,077±$5kLowest 24% below NY
	Hanover and Murray 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	$123,800±$14kLowest 71% below NY
	Hanover and Murray 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	$826±$63Lowest 49% below NY
	Hanover and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,881Lowest 56% below NY	$3,907Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±22.9Highest NY: 52.1%	38.9%±15.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hanover and Murray 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%	10%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY	1952Highest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 19% below NY	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±6.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Murray 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	#430 of 484 in NY
School district	FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL	HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	9.5Highest
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.