Compare towns
Hanover vs Princeton vs Norwell
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).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
3,529Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Princeton 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% |
22.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.4% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 83% above MA |
$158,750±$46kLowest 53% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% 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 |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above 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 |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
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% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Wachusett | Norwell |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.