Compare towns
Marion vs Hanover vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marion has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($599k median).
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 | Marion | Hanover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,310Lowest |
14,845Highest |
5,837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
46.5±6 16% above MA |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marion and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,092±$30k 38% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA |
| Hanover and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $653,500±$47k 16% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$599,100±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
| Hanover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,530 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #104 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marion | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.