Compare towns
Freetown vs Newfields vs Douglas vs Hanson
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Douglas | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,023Lowest |
9,207 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Douglas 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Douglas 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 78% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Newfields School District | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.