Compare towns
Hanover vs Needham vs Norwell
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 affordable homes ($755k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Norwell has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Needham | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
32,459Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$23k 83% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA |
| Needham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
| Needham and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Norwell 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | — | Norwell |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | — | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.