Compare towns
Hanson vs Hardwick 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 homeowners (89%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Hanover has the most people working from home (19.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
2,684Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
| Hanover and Hanson 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Lowest 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 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.