Compare towns
Hanover vs Newfields vs North Reading
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%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | Newfields | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
2,023Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Reading 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 135% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kLowest 83% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Lowest 200% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,693 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Newfields 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Newfields School District | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.