What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k 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	Somerset
People
Population	14,845Lowest	18,298Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Somerset 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	$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 56% above MA	$4,977Lowest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±12.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Somerset 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%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	31 minLowest 8% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	12%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover and Somerset 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	#132 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.6Highest
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.