Compare towns
Hanover vs Mapleton vs Union vs Littleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Littleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Littleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
10,280 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.5±2Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Littleton 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Littleton 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 135% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$149,722±$31k 85% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$658,300±$40k 98% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$2,016±$507Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Littleton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 200% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$9,458Highest 203% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Littleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Littleton 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 | — | — | #52 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Littleton |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | None in town | Littleton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.