Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanover vs Hanson
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 most affordable homes ($518k median).
Hanover has the most people working from home (19.6%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
14,845Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson 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±$15k 38% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kLowest 8% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above 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 |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| 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.