Compare towns
Hanover vs Putnam vs Upton vs North Reading
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).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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 | Putnam | Upton | North Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845 |
9,292 |
8,189Lowest |
15,765Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
| Upton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Upton 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Reading 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
| North Reading 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Upton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Putnam School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Reading |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Putnam High School | Blackstone Valley | North Reading High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
9.5Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.