Compare towns
Hanover vs Milton vs Reading vs Hanson
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%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k 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 | Milton | Reading | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845 |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Reading and Hanson 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% |
25.3%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Milton 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$188,529±$15k 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Hanover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Milton | Reading | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.4 |
12.1 |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.