Compare towns

Hanover vs Devens 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%).
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Pembroke has the most homeowners (90.1%).

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.

MeasureHanoverDevensPembroke
People
Population
14,845
1,723Lowest
18,382Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.4Lowest
4% above MA
48.6±4.3Highest
22% above MA
45.5±3.3
14% above MA
Devens 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%
5.5%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
16.1%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
14%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Pembroke 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
44.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±4.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
Devens and Pembroke 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
$189,250±$63k
82% above MA
$146,285±$17kLowest
41% above MA
Hanover and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$755,400±$39kHighest
34% above MA
$556,800±$96kLowest
about the MA average
$586,500±$28k
4% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,845±$341
5% above MA
$1,500±$539Lowest
15% 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
$5,556Lowest
7% below MA
$6,585
10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±23.8
MA: 51.8%
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.1%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Devens and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
MA: 10%
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.5%
MA: 62.5%
79.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
90.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
28 minLowest
4% below MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±4.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±11.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±5.6
MA: 18.6%
Devens and Pembroke 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 — Pembroke
High school in town South Shore Vocational Technical High — 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.