What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Natick 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	Natick
People
Population	14,845Lowest	36,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA
	Natick 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%	21.2%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Natick 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%	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Natick 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	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA
	Natick and Hanover 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	$8,914Lowest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Natick 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%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Natick 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	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Natick
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	12.6Highest
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.