What stands out worked out from the figures below

Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).

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

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	Harvard	Hanover
People
Population	6,927Lowest	14,845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
	Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62%Highest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hanover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA	$189,803±$23kLowest 83% above MA
	Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA	$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA
	Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA
	Hanover and Harvard 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 67% above MA	$9,342Lowest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#12 of 282 in MA	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Harvard	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	The Bromfield High School	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	12 photos →	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.