Compare towns
Hanover vs Hardwick vs North Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | Hardwick | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
2,684Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Hardwick and North Reading 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and North Reading 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and North Reading 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and North Reading 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
| Hanover and North Reading 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 56% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.