Compare towns
Hanson vs Sterling vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Sterling | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
3,629Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Hanover 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 64% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S. |
— | $1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Sterling 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 149 in CT | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Sterling School District | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.