Compare towns
Hanover vs Springfield 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 oldest population (median age 41.8).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).
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 | Springfield | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845 |
154,749Highest |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
| Hanover and Norwell 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% |
24.2%±0.9Lowest 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%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell and Hanover 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Norwell |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Springfield Central High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.