Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanson vs Killingly vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Killingly | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
10,660 |
17,867Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 66% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Whitman-Hanson | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.