Compare towns
Hanover vs Nelson vs Pembroke
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Nelson | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
648Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
45.5±3.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pembroke 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 135% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$146,285±$17k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$586,500±$28k 76% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,464±$753Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,585 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Pembroke 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 | — | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Nelson School District | Pembroke |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.