Compare towns
Freetown vs Surry 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 highest household income ($144k).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
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 | Surry | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
1,052Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% 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% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest 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% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 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% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 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. |
$110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% 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. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% 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±$363 34% above U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Lowest 29% 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. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest 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% |
3.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 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 Our Story | 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.