Compare towns
Hanover vs Needham 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 the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | Needham | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Lowest |
32,459Highest |
15,765 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
| Needham 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hanover 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$23k 83% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% 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±$39k 34% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
| Needham and North Reading 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 |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Needham | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Needham High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.9Highest |
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.