Compare towns
Freetown vs Putney vs Hanson vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Putney | Hanson | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,622Lowest |
10,660Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 5% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15k 78% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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 56% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% 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. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above 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 | $5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #149 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Whitman-Hanson | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.