Census and Street Lists

Street Lists, Acceptances, and Census

Census People

Annual Town Census and Street List

Hanover is mandated by state law to conduct an annual census. The census forms are sent to residents each year on the first of January.  Residents are urged to review, update, sign, and return it to the Town Registrar’s office in the envelope provided.

Forms may be mailed to the Registrar’s Office or inserted in the front door mail slot at Town Hall. Even if there are no changes, we still need the form to be returned.

If there are no changes, you can utilize the online census option.

All occupants, including children, should be listed, although information obtained for residents under the age of 17 remains confidential. A signature is required to make changes for registered voters, including removal from their Hanover residence. All children should be listed on both the annual census and the school census form.

Everyone Counts

The Annual Town Census is important for many reasons:

  • Census figures are used to determine grants and to receive state and federal reimbursements.
  • The census establishes legal residence for voting privileges and town benefits.
  • The census is the vehicle by which annual street lists are printed for distribution to police, fire, and emergency personnel.
  • Filing a census may provide you with proof of residency for a number of legal requirements such as in-state tuition at state colleges, housing benefits, veterans benefits, and insurance benefits.
  • School enrollments are based on the town census.
  • Be sure that your household phone number is listed on the Census. Your number will only be used for emergency purposes.
  • Any registered voters in a household that fail to complete an annual census will lose their "active voter" status, which will result in you experiencing unnecessary delays at the polls.

The census contains a warning (as directed by Massachusetts General Law) that "failure to respond to the census mailing for two consecutive years will result in removal from the active voting list".

Completing this form does not register you as a voter, but failure to answer this annual listing shall result in a voter's name being removed from the active voter list and may result in removal from the voter registration rolls (MGL c51,s4). Please visit Voter Registration and Absentee Ballots for additional information about voting.

The Annual Street List of Residents is published in late spring and is available in the Town Clerk’s Office for a fee of $10.00.

Census Forms

Any resident who did not receive a census form, or who might need another one, should call Registrar's Office at 781-826-5000, ext. 1082. If you are new to the Town of Hanover or have misplaced your questionnaire, you may download a blank Census Form.

Accepted Streets