Compare towns
Hanover vs Brookline vs Medway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Medway has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Hanover | Brookline | Medway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
5,736Lowest |
13,436 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.7±2.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kLowest 112% above U.S. |
$173,750±$18k 115% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kLowest 64% above U.S. |
$617,300±$21k 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,575±$205Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 200% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,730Lowest 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.3%±21.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Medway 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #40 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Brookline School District | Medway |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Medway High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 13.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.