What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanover has the most affordable homes ($755k median).

Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanover	Norwell
People
Population	14,845Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
	Hanover and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norwell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hanover and Norwell 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 83% above MA	$188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA
	Hanover and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA
	Norwell and Hanover 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	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 MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 10% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norwell and Hanover 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	Norwell
High school in town	South Shore Vocational Technical High	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.