Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanover vs Pepperell
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
14,845Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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 |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% 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 |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 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%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hanover and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex |
| 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.