Compare towns

Hanover vs Wolcott vs Hanson

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 most people working from home (19.6%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.

MeasureHanoverWolcottHanson
People
Population
14,845
16,279Highest
10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±1.4Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.4±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
Wolcott and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Hanover and Hanson 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%
18.8%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hanson and Wolcott 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
U.S.: 35.7%
37%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Wolcott 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
135% above U.S.
$110,850±$10kLowest
37% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$755,400±$39kHighest
127% above U.S.
$326,200±$17kLowest
about the U.S. average
$533,900±$36k
60% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,845±$341Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,464±$913Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,821±$860
29% above U.S.
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
200% above U.S.
$5,799Lowest
86% above U.S.
$6,402
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
65%±23.8
U.S.: 51.1%
49.8%±24.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
21% above U.S.
30 minLowest
13% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #69 of 282 in MA #76 of 149 in CT #149 of 282 in MA
School district Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical Wolcott School District Whitman-Hanson
High school in town South Shore Vocational Technical High Wolcott High School Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3
10.1Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.