Compare towns
Hanover vs Colrain vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Colrain | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
1,627Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
49.6±8.7Highest 24% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Colrain and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pembroke 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 83% above MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$4,317Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke and Hanover 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Mohawk Trail | Pembroke |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.