Compare towns
North Reading vs Hingham vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
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 | Hingham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,765 |
24,283Highest |
14,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.8 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Hanover and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,259±$356 28% above MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,845±$341Lowest 5% above MA |
| Hingham and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,693 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.1%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and North Reading 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Reading | Hingham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | North Reading High | Hingham High | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.9Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.