What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blackstone has the most affordable homes ($404k median).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

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	Blackstone	Hanover
People
Population	9,255Lowest	14,845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
	Blackstone and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Blackstone and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hanover and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,191±$21kLowest 9% below MA	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,400±$34kLowest 28% below MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Lowest 5% below MA	$9,342Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±18.3 MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	32 minLowest 10% above MA
Work from home	17.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover and Blackstone 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	#207 of 282 in MA	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone-Millville	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Blackstone Millville RHS	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.