Compare towns
Norfolk vs Harvard vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Norfolk | Harvard | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,673 |
6,927Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.6% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanover and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,720±$22k 93% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$189,803±$23kLowest 83% above MA |
| Harvard and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $725,200±$34kLowest 29% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
| Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Norfolk and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,651 61% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #123 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | King Philip · Millis | Harvard | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.