Compare towns
Hanover vs Pawtucket vs Norwell
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 oldest population (median age 41.8).
Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.
| Measure | Hanover | Pawtucket | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
75,893Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Highest 7% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.2±1.4 about the U.S. 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%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket 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 135% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$188,699±$25k 134% 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. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above 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. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5Highest 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Norwell |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | William E. Tolman High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.