Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanson vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Hanson | Reading | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845 |
10,660 |
699Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Reading and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% 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% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading 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. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% 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±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 200% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
14.7Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.