Compare towns
Hanover vs Norwell vs North Reading
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k 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 | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
11,361Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
| North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
16.7%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest 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±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% 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 |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
| North Reading and Norwell 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 |
$9,693 62% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 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%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Norwell | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Norwell High | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.7Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.