Compare towns
Hanover vs Newfields vs Norwell
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 the most renters (15.5% rent).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
2,023Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 135% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25kLowest 134% 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±$39k 127% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Norwell 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwell 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 | — | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Newfields School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.