Compare towns
Freetown vs Hanson vs Wareham 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).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Berkley has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Wareham | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
10,660 |
23,302Highest |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham and Berkley 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±$10k 27% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$511,200±$45k 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±$860 3% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
— |
| Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 13% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below 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% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berkley and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Whitman-Hanson | Wareham | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.