Compare towns

Windham vs Hanover vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).

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.

MeasureWindhamHanoverBrookline
People
Population
594
14,845Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
41.8±1.4Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.1±2.7Highest
16% above U.S.
Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.5%±7.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
56.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$189,803±$23kHighest
135% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$755,400±$39kHighest
127% above U.S.
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,845±$341Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Lowest
23% above U.S.
Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$9,342Highest
200% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±23.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Windham 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 — #69 of 282 in MA —
School district — Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical —
High school in town — South Shore Vocational Technical High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3
—
On TownTapestry
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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.