What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most affordable homes ($119k 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	Orange	Hanover
People
Population	1,196Lowest	6,882Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.6±6.3Lowest 17% above NY	50.6±5.5Highest 27% above NY
	Hanover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±4 NY: 20.5%	18%±3.9 NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	22.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.7%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hanover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	23%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	2.6%±1.1Highest NY: 7%
	Hanover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$60,000±$9kLowest 30% below NY	$71,563±$9kHighest 17% below NY
	Hanover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,200±$17kLowest 72% below NY	$141,500±$16kHighest 67% below NY
	Hanover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$932±$81Lowest 43% below NY	$993±$105Highest 39% below NY
	Hanover and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY	$2,881Highest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.1%±42.6Highest NY: 52.1%	46.5%±22.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Orange and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Lowest NY: 14%	14.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 8% below NY	27 minLowest 19% below NY
Work from home	8.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hanover and Orange 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.