Compare towns
Hanover vs Needham vs Hanover
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 affordable homes ($825k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Needham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685 |
32,459Highest |
8,479Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 110% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kLowest 90% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kLowest 148% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97k 153% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.