Compare towns
Norwell vs Worcester 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
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Hanover has the most renters (15.5% rent).
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 | Worcester | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
831Lowest |
14,845Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$25k 134% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$755,400±$39k 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,342 200% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwell and Worcester 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 |
| School district | Norwell | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.