Compare towns
Hanover vs Norwell vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
11,361 |
9,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 135% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 127% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Norwell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342 200% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Norwell | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Norwell High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.7Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.