What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most affordable homes ($755k median).

Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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	Lynnfield
People
Population	14,845Highest	13,064Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA	41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA
	Hanover and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lynnfield and Hanover 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%	17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Lynnfield 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%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hanover and Lynnfield 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	$175,265±$23kLowest 69% above MA
	Hanover and Lynnfield 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	$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA	$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA
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%	69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lynnfield and Hanover 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%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lynnfield 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	#27 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Lynnfield
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Lynnfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.0Highest
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.