Compare towns
Rockland vs Northbridge vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rockland has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Northbridge | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701Highest |
16,458 |
14,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Northbridge and Hanover 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% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Northbridge and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255 9% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
| Hanover and Rockland 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Northbridge | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Northbridge High | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.8 |
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.