What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).

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	Hanover	Danvers
People
Population	14,845Lowest	28,098Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	45.3±3Highest 13% above MA
	Danvers and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hanover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA	$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA	$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA
	Danvers and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 56% above MA	$6,654Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8% MA: 10%	4.8% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	28 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover and Danvers 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	#69 of 282 in MA	#91 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.8Highest
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.