What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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	Wilbraham
People
Population	14,845Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
	Wilbraham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Wilbraham 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%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wilbraham 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	$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 56% above MA	$6,658Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hanover and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	14.2Highest
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.