Compare towns
Hanover vs Middleton vs Webster
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%).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Middleton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
9,816Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Middleton 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Hanover 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 |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Hanover and Middleton 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 |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Hanover and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Hanover and Middleton 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 |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Middleton | Webster |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.