Compare towns
Rockland vs Wakefield 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 most affordable homes ($473k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Wakefield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701 |
27,793Highest |
14,845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Wakefield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Rockland 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% |
19%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Wakefield 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±$12kLowest 8% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21kLowest 16% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Hanover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
| Wakefield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,487Lowest 8% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Hanover 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.7 |
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.