What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most kids (18% under 18).

Windham has the most expensive homes ($316k 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	Windham
People
Population	6,882Highest	1,432Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.6±5.5Lowest 27% above NY	56.5±5.1Highest 42% above NY
	Windham 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%	11.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Hanover and Windham 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%	31.4%±5.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	6.6%±5Highest NY: 7%
	Windham 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	$76,477±$17kHighest 11% below NY
	Windham 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	$315,600±$74kHighest 26% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$105Highest 39% below NY	$850±$295Lowest 48% below NY
	Hanover and Windham 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	$3,363Highest 49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±22.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	68.9%±35.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Windham and Hanover 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%	7.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	89%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY	1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 19% below NY	27 minHighest 18% below NY
Work from home	11.5%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.1%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Windham 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	—
High school in town	SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL	—
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.