Compare towns
Hanover vs Stow vs Lynnfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Lynnfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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.
| Measure | Hanover | Stow | Lynnfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
7,165Lowest |
13,064 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
41.4±2.1Lowest 4% above MA |
| Stow and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynnfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow and Lynnfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanover and Stow 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 |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$175,265±$23kLowest 69% above MA |
| Hanover and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Hanover 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Lynnfield 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #27 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Nashoba | Lynnfield |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Lynnfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.