Compare towns
Hanover vs Reading vs Pembroke
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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($587k 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 | Reading | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Lowest |
25,612Highest |
18,382 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Pembroke 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pembroke 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$146,285±$17kLowest 41% above MA |
| Hanover and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$586,500±$28kLowest 4% above MA |
| Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Reading 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,585Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Pembroke 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Pembroke 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Reading | Pembroke |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Reading Memorial High | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.1 |
12.3Highest |
| 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.