What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).

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	Douglas
People
Population	14,845Highest	9,207Lowest
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	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Hanover 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	$152,267±$10kLowest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Hanover and Douglas 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	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Douglas 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%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas 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	#69 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Douglas
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.