Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanson vs Berkley
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).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Berkley has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | Hanson | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
10,660Highest |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Berkley and Hanson 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Berkley 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% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest 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% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berkley 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 |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$511,200±$45kLowest 9% below MA |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
— |
| Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$6,018 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berkley and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Whitman-Hanson | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.