What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).

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	Ipswich
People
Population	14,845Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA
	Hanover and Ipswich 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	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
	Hanover and Ipswich 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	$7,960Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Ipswich 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%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover and Ipswich 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	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Ipswich
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	9.0Lowest
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.