Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanson vs Stoneham
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 highest household income ($190k).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
10,660Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Hanson and Stoneham 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Hanson 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Stoneham 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±$10k 27% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Stoneham |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.