Compare towns
Freetown vs Sutton vs Upton 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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Upton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Hanson 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Sutton 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±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
| Upton and Hanson 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±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% 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% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Upton 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% 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 |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.