Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanson vs Townsend
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 people working from home (19.6%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
10,660 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$10k 27% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% 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 |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 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% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.