Compare towns
Hanover vs Ipswich vs Medway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Medway has the most affordable homes ($617k 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.
| Measure | Hanover | Ipswich | Medway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
13,930 |
13,436Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Medway 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
$173,750±$18k 67% above MA |
| Hanover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$617,300±$21kLowest 10% 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±$90 9% below MA |
$1,575±$205Lowest 11% 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 |
$8,730 46% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
35.3%±21.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medway 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #40 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Ipswich | Medway |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Ipswich High | Medway High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.0Lowest |
13.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.