Compare towns
Brookline vs Hanover vs Putney vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Hanover | Putney | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
14,845Highest |
2,622 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Andover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — | #69 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.