What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).

Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k 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	Wolcott
People
Population	14,845Lowest	16,279Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.4±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
	Wolcott 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 U.S.: 22%	19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wolcott and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolcott 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 135% above U.S.	$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S.	$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S.	$1,464±$913Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Hanover and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,342Highest 200% above U.S.	$5,799Lowest 86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.8%±24.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	30 minLowest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 282 in MA	#76 of 149 in CT
School district	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical	Wolcott School District
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Wolcott High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.