Compare towns
Freetown vs Lawrence vs Hanson
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 highest household income ($144k).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Lawrence | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
88,736Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Hanson and Freetown 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Hanson 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest 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% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lawrence 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 38% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% 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 |
$1,662±$50Lowest 6% below MA |
$1,821±$860 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 | $5,188 13% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hanson and Freetown 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Lawrence | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.