What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).

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	North Reading
People
Population	14,845Lowest	15,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA
	North Reading 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%	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and North Reading 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%	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading 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	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA
	Hanover and North Reading 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	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA
	Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA
	North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Lowest 56% above MA	$9,693Highest 62% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	North Reading
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	North Reading High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	10.1Lowest
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.