Compare towns
Hanover vs Norwell vs Hanson
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 renters (15.5% rent).
Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
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 | Norwell | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
11,361 |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson 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 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson 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% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson 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 83% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% 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±$39k 34% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% 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 | $9,342 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Norwell 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Norwell | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Norwell High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.7 |
14.7Highest |
| 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.