What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).

Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).

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	Stoneham	Hanover
People
Population	23,355Highest	14,845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±2.2Highest 6% above MA	41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA
	Stoneham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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+	55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	56.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Stoneham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA	$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA	$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA
	Stoneham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,523Lowest 9% above MA	$9,342Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanover and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Stoneham 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	#117 of 282 in MA	#69 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoneham	Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Stoneham High	South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	10.3Lowest
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.