Compare towns

Hanover vs Douglas vs Lynnfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

MeasureHanoverDouglasLynnfield
People
Population
14,845Highest
9,207Lowest
13,064
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.4
4% above MA
44±2.6Highest
10% above MA
41.4±2.1Lowest
4% 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%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
28%±4.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Lynnfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.9%±2.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
Lynnfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
56.8%
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.1Lowest
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
$175,265±$23k
69% above MA
Hanover and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$755,400±$39k
34% above MA
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$917,600±$31kHighest
63% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,845±$341
5% above MA
$1,503±$697Lowest
15% below MA
$2,676±$219Highest
52% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,342
56% above MA
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±23.8
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
69.2%±21.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lynnfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.5%
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
14 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1964Lowest
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
10% above MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
32 min
10% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±4.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
27.4%±4.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Lynnfield and Douglas 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 #27 of 282 in MA
School district Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical Douglas Lynnfield
High school in town South Shore Vocational Technical High Douglas High School Lynnfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
7.2Lowest
12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.