What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Paxton
People
Population	14,845Highest	5,002Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4 4% above MA	41.8±3.3 4% above MA
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.4%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Paxton 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%	54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 56% above MA	$7,129Lowest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Paxton 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%	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 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%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Paxton 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	#219 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Wachusett
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
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.