What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the most people working from home (22.5%).

Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).

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	Burlington	Hanover
People
Population	26,274Highest	14,845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Burlington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,436±$14kLowest 41% above MA	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
	Hanover and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest about the MA average	$9,342Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Burlington	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Burlington High	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	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.