Compare towns

Freetown vs Dummerston vs Hanson vs Fall River

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% 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.

MeasureFreetownDummerstonHansonFall River
People
Population
9,285
2,090Lowest
10,660
94,082Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.2
5% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.8%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Hanson and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$143,884±$15kHighest
78% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$518,200±$30k
56% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$533,900±$36kHighest
60% above U.S.
$395,500±$11k
19% above U.S.
Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,891±$363Highest
34% above U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,821±$860
29% above U.S.
$1,155±$27Lowest
18% below U.S.
Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,188
66% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.2%±12.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanson and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
7.7%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #161 of 282 in MA — #149 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA
School district Freetown-Lakeville Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Whitman-Hanson Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town None in town None in town Whitman Hanson Regional B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
14.7Highest
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

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.