Census and Street Lists
Annual Town Census and Street List
Hanover is mandated by state law to conduct an annual town census. The town census forms are sent by US Mail to residents each year on or after the first of January. Residents are strongly urged to review, update, sign, and return it to the Town Registrar’s office in the envelope provided. Any and all non-responses then require a mandatory follow-up, which costs the town additional time and money, so your response to the first mailing is appreciated!
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 to hear from you! If there are no changes, you can instead utilize the online census option. This is a very easy alternative for those with no changes!
All occupants, including children, should be listed on the Town Census, although information obtained for residents under the age of 17 remains confidential and will not be shared publicly. A signature on the paper form is required to make changes for registered voters, including removal from their Hanover residence.
Hanover is also mandated by state law to conduct a census of all non-Hanover Public School children. This second census is conducted electronically. All children should be listed on the annual town census (paper or electronic), and all non-Hanover Public Schools children should also be on the electronic school census.
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 the cost of $15.00.
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. 1028. If you are new to the Town of Hanover or have misplaced your questionnaire, you may download a blank Census Form.