Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanson vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
10,660 |
9,353Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
42%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$145,707±$28k 40% above MA |
| Hanover and Rutland 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 |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$462,800±$33kLowest 18% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Hanover and Hanson 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$5,657Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson 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% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Rutland 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 | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Wachusett |
| 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 |
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| 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.