What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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	Harvard
People
Population	14,845Highest	6,927Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA
	Harvard 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%	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Harvard 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%	16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Harvard 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hanover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kLowest 83% above MA	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA
	Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA
	Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA
	Hanover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Lowest 56% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard 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%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 282 in MA	#12 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Harvard
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	The Bromfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.