Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanson vs Mason
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Hanson | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
10,660 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Mason and Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason 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% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Hanson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Mason School District |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.