What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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	Salem
People
Population	14,845Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Hanover and Salem 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%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Salem 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%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Hanover and Salem 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	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Salem 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%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Salem
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	9.8Lowest
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.