What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the most affordable homes ($279k median).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Randolph	Hanover
People
Population	4,843Lowest	11,685Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.4±7.4Highest 4% above U.S.	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Randolph and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Randolph and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Randolph and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S.	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S.	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S.	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#55 of 70 in VT	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Randolph Union High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Lowest	10.7Highest
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.