Compare towns
Hanover vs North Reading vs North Pembroke
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 kids (26.1% under 18).
North Reading has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
North Pembroke has the most people working from home (40.9%).
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 | North Reading | North Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
15,765Highest |
3,393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
57±11Highest 43% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
32.2%±9.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading 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 |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$194,309±$63kHighest 87% above MA |
| North Pembroke 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 34% above MA |
$710,500±$24k 26% above MA |
$536,000±$135kLowest 5% below MA |
| 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 5% above MA |
$2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,585±$885Highest 47% above MA |
| North Pembroke and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 56% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,732Lowest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.4%±11.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
40.9%±24.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| North Pembroke 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | North Reading | — |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | North Reading High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
10.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.