Compare towns
Freetown vs Groton vs Hanson vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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.
| Measure | Freetown | Groton | Hanson | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
11,390 |
10,660 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Hanson and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| 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 13% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Groton-Dunstable | Whitman-Hanson | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Whitman Hanson Regional | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.7 |
14.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.