Compare towns

Hanover vs Ware 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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.

MeasureHanoverWareLynnfield
People
Population
14,845Highest
10,048Lowest
13,064
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.4
4% above MA
43.1±4.7Highest
8% above MA
41.4±2.1Lowest
4% above MA
Ware 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%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
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%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.9%±2.4
MA: 17.9%
Ware 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%
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.2%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Ware 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
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
$175,265±$23k
69% above MA
Hanover and Lynnfield 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
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$917,600±$31kHighest
63% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,845±$341
5% above MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$2,676±$219Highest
52% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,342
56% above MA
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±23.8
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Lowest
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%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.5%
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
87.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1964
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
32 minHighest
10% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
27.4%±4.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Lynnfield 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 #267 of 282 in MA #27 of 282 in MA
School district Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical Ware Lynnfield
High school in town South Shore Vocational Technical High Ware Junior/Senior High School Lynnfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
11.1
12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.