Compare towns
North Reading vs Dummerston 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
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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 | North Reading | Dummerston | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765Highest |
2,090Lowest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24k 114% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Hanover and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,342 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Dummerston 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | — | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | North Reading High | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.