Compare towns
Norwell vs Hanover vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hanover has the most renters (15.5% rent).
Groton has the highest household income ($193k).
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 | Norwell | Hanover | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Lowest |
14,845Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Hanover and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA |
$189,803±$23k 83% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
$743,400±$46kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Norwell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Norwell High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
10.3Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.