Compare towns
Rockland vs Ware 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Ware | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,701Highest |
10,048Lowest |
14,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
| Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,900±$21k 16% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,610±$255 9% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±10.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.7%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Rockland | Ware | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Rockland Senior High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.1 |
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.