Compare towns
Hanover vs Brookline vs North Reading
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 highest household income ($190k).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
5,736Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43±2.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Hanover 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% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and North Reading 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±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kLowest 83% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Brookline 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. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356 60% above U.S. |
| Brookline and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Lowest 200% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,693 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Hanover 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Brookline School District | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.