What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).

Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Stoneham
People
Population	11,685Lowest	23,355Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stoneham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S.	$2,035±$142Lowest 44% above U.S.
	Hanover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	24.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Stoneham 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	#1 of 120 in NH	#117 of 282 in MA
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Stoneham
High school in town	Hanover High School	Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	10.7
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.