Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanover vs Acushnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Hanover has the most people working from home (19.6%).
Acushnet has the most affordable homes ($436k 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.
| Measure | Freetown | Hanover | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
14,845Highest |
10,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Freetown 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanover and Acushnet 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 |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$436,400±$34kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,170±$354Lowest 34% below MA |
| Freetown and Hanover 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 |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$4,647Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Acushnet |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.