Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanover vs Douglas
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 expensive homes ($755k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
14,845Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15kLowest 38% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% 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 | $5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Freetown 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Hanover 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 | #161 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.