What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k 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	Putnam
People
Population	6,882Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.6±5.5Lowest 27% above NY	53.6±6.4Highest 35% above NY
	Putnam 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 NY: 20.5%	17.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Hanover and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±4.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	35.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	2.8%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
	Putnam 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±$9kLowest 17% below NY	$92,344±$14kHighest 7% above NY
	Putnam 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 67% below NY	$266,200±$48kHighest 37% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$105 39% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,881Lowest 56% below NY	$3,674Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±22.9Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Hanover and Putnam 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%	7.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY	1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 19% below NY	21 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9%	8.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Hanover and Putnam 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	PUTNAM CENTRAL 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

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.