Compare towns
Hanover vs Hanson vs Worcester
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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
10,660Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
14.6 |
| 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.