What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).

Norwell has the most people working from home (27.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hanson	Norwell
People
Population	10,660Lowest	11,361Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
	Hanson and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest 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%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Norwell 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%	69.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Lowest 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	$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA	$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA	$2,215±$336Highest 26% 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	$6,402Lowest 7% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Lowest 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	2.7% MA: 10%	2.7% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Norwell
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.