What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).

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	North Reading	Hanover
People
Population	15,765Highest	14,845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Highest 8% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
	North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
	Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
	Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA
	North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 62% above MA	$9,342Lowest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.5%Highest 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	34 minHighest 15% above MA	32 minLowest 10% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Hanover 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	#33 of 282 in MA	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	North Reading High	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.