Compare towns
Rockland vs Hanover vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% 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 | Rockland | Hanover | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701Highest |
14,845Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3 about the MA average |
41.8±1.4Highest 4% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Hanover and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanover and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,405±$12k 8% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Hanover and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487 8% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Rockland 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 | #175 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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| 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.