Compare towns
Hanover vs Ware vs Lynnfield vs Hanson
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%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Ware | Lynnfield | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
10,048Lowest |
13,064 |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% 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 |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Ware and Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Hanson 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% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Ware 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 |
$132,200±$10k 27% 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 |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 56% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402 7% 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% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynnfield and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.3% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Ware | Lynnfield | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lynnfield High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
12.0 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.