Compare towns
Hanover vs Norwell vs Springfield
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 oldest population (median age 41.8).
Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
11,361Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA |
39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Lowest 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%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Norwell | Springfield |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Norwell High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.7 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.