What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($446k 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	Smithfield
People
Population	14,845Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4 7% above U.S.	41.8±2.6 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 200% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Smithfield 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%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Smithfield 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	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Smithfield
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.8Highest
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.