What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	14,845Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lawrence and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lawrence 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	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA
	Hanover and Lawrence 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	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Lawrence 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%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 282 in MA	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Lawrence
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	13.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.