Compare towns
Norwell vs Wenham vs Hanover
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%).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Hanover has the most affordable homes ($755k median).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
4,929Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4 about the MA average |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA |
| Hanover and Norwell 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% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25kLowest 82% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$189,803±$23k 83% above MA |
| Wenham 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±$35k 54% above MA |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$755,400±$39kLowest 34% above MA |
| Wenham and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
— | $1,845±$341Lowest 5% above 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Hamilton-Wenham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Norwell High | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.