Compare towns

Hanover vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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.

MeasureHanoverWebsterHanson
People
Population
14,845Highest
12,228
10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.4
4% above MA
37.2±2.1Lowest
7% 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%
21.8%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hanover and Webster 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%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
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%
18.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
Webster 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
$63,837±$8kLowest
39% below MA
$132,200±$10k
27% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$755,400±$39kHighest
34% above MA
$333,100±$14kLowest
41% below MA
$533,900±$36k
5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,845±$341Highest
5% above MA
$1,198±$85Lowest
32% 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
$3,234Lowest
46% below MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±23.8
MA: 51.8%
46.1%±7.4Lowest
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%
16%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.5%
MA: 62.5%
45.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
14 yrs newer than MA
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
10% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #69 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical — Whitman-Hanson
High school in town South Shore Vocational Technical High — Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
—
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.