Compare towns
Hanson vs Hanover vs Douglas vs Pembroke
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Hanover | Douglas | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660 |
14,845 |
9,207Lowest |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA |
| Pembroke and Douglas 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% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$586,500±$28k 4% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pembroke and Douglas 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Douglas | Pembroke |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Douglas High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.3 |
7.2Lowest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.