Compare towns

Freetown vs Hanson vs Surry

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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).

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.

MeasureFreetownHansonSurry
People
Population
9,285
10,660Highest
1,052Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.8±3
10% above U.S.
44.7±5.1Highest
15% above U.S.
Surry and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
21.6%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±6.2Lowest
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%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Surry and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
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%
6.6%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Surry 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±$15kHighest
78% above U.S.
$132,200±$10k
64% above U.S.
$110,125±$25kLowest
36% 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.
$331,400±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
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±$363
34% above U.S.
$1,821±$860Lowest
29% above U.S.
$1,955±$374Highest
38% above U.S.
Surry and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,188Lowest
66% above U.S.
$6,402Highest
105% above U.S.
$6,384
105% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.2%±12.1
U.S.: 51.1%
69%±33.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±74.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
7.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.9%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Surry 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 —
School district Freetown-Lakeville Whitman-Hanson —
High school in town None in town Whitman Hanson Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.