Compare towns
Hanson vs Dedham vs Hanover
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 affordable homes ($534k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Dedham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
25,237Highest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 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 | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Dedham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Dedham High | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.