Compare towns

Hanover vs Springfield 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 the most people working from home (19.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

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.

MeasureHanoverSpringfieldHanson
People
Population
14,845
154,749Highest
10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.4
4% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
42.8±3Highest
7% above MA
Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.1%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hanover and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.1%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Hanson 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Springfield and Hanson 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
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$132,200±$10k
27% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$755,400±$39kHighest
34% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$533,900±$36k
5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,845±$341Highest
5% above MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% 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
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±23.8
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.5%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #69 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical Springfield Whitman-Hanson
High school in town South Shore Vocational Technical High Springfield Central High Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
12.2
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.