Compare towns
Hanover vs Groton vs North Reading
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%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
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 | Groton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
11,390Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Groton and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Groton 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±$23k 83% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
| Groton and Hanover 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 |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
| Hanover and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and North Reading 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Groton-Dunstable | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Groton Dunstable Regional | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
13.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.