Compare towns
Hanson vs Norwell vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (100%).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Plympton has the shortest commute (33 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 | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,927Lowest |
11,361Highest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 10% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.2Highest 16% above MA |
| Plympton 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%±5Lowest 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%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell and Plympton 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 |
$126,736±$20k 22% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kLowest 9% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$517,800±$52k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$555±$148Lowest 69% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429Lowest 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,628 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.8%±40.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell and Plympton 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norwell | Plympton |
| High school in town | — | Norwell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.