What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most people working from home (19.6%).

Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k 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	Hanson
People
Population	14,845Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA
	Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hanson 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	$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA
	Hanover and Hanson 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	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	14.7Highest
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.