Compare towns
Freetown vs Sutton vs Pepperell 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Sutton | Pepperell | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
9,452 |
11,663Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Sutton 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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±$15k 38% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% 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 | $5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
$6,402 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Pepperell 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Sutton | North Middlesex | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.