Compare towns
Freetown vs Townsend vs Hanson vs Pepperell
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 highest household income ($144k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hanson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Townsend | Hanson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
9,100Lowest |
10,660 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Hanson and Pepperell 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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 38% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,402 7% above MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | North Middlesex | Whitman-Hanson | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
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.