What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k 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	Sheffield
People
Population	14,845Highest	3,330Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA
	Sheffield 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%	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield 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%	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sheffield 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	$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,837±$1kLowest 4% above MA
	Hanover and Sheffield 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	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Sheffield 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%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	82.3%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 minHighest 10% above MA	21 minLowest 29% below MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 282 in MA	#250 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Southern Berkshire
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Mt Everett Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	7.8Lowest
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.