What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($185k median).

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

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	Hardwick	Hanover
People
Population	2,965Lowest	6,882Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±7.4Lowest 21% above U.S.	50.6±5.5Highest 30% above U.S.
	Hanover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hanover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hardwick and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	23%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above U.S.	$71,563±$9kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$184,700±$39kHighest 44% below U.S.	$141,500±$16kLowest 57% below U.S.
	Hardwick and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$875±$406Lowest 38% below U.S.	$993±$105Highest 30% below U.S.
	Hanover and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,351Highest 39% above U.S.	$2,881Lowest 8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±41.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.5%±22.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hardwick and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	11.8%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hardwick 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	#68 of 70 in VT	#196 of 484 in NY
School district	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26	FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Hazen Union High School	SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	9.3Highest
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.