Compare towns
Hanover vs Princeton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Princeton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
3,529Lowest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Princeton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Princeton 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Hanson 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% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Hanover and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Hanson 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% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Wachusett | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 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.