What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).

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	Westford
People
Population	11,685Highest	2,290Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S.	44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westford and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover and Westford 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%	52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	9.5%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S.	$112,750±$12kLowest 40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S.	$424,500±$21kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,253±$217Lowest 59% above U.S.	$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S.
	Westford and Hanover 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.	$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover and Westford 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%	2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover and Westford 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	—
School district	Dresden School District · Hanover School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Hanover High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.