Compare towns
Hanover vs Ripton vs North Reading 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 highest household income ($190k).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
North Reading has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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 | Ripton | North Reading | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,845 |
508Lowest |
15,765Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and North Reading 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kLowest 40% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above 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. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Lowest 31% above U.S. |
— | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336 57% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Norwell 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$9,693 211% 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% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Norwell 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwell and North Reading 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Reading | Norwell |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town | North Reading High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | 10.1Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.