What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($409k median).

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	Sheffield	Hanover
People
Population	3,330Lowest	14,845Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±8Highest 21% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
	Sheffield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sheffield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sheffield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,837±$1kLowest 4% above MA	$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA
	Hanover and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,520Lowest 25% below MA	$9,342Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.3%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	21 minLowest 29% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#250 of 282 in MA	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Southern Berkshire	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Mt Everett Regional	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.8Lowest	10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.