Compare towns
Hanson vs Norwell vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering HansonPembroke
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).
Hanson has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Hanson | Norwell | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
11,361Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24kLowest 15% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
| Norwell and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.1%±24.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norwell | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | — | Norwell High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.