What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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	Plainfield
People
Population	14,845Lowest	15,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.8±1.4Highest 7% above U.S.	37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Hanover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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 135% above U.S.	$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S.	$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 200% above U.S.	$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 282 in MA	#131 of 149 in CT
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Plainfield School District
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Plainfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.