Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanson vs Wareham
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%).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
10,660Lowest |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%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%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Wareham |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
14.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.