Compare towns

Freetown 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).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

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.

MeasureFreetownUptonHanson
People
Population
9,285
8,189Lowest
10,660Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.2Lowest
about the MA average
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
42.8±3
7% above MA
Upton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.1Lowest
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%
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%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
42.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Hanson and Freetown 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
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
$132,200±$10kLowest
27% above MA
Upton 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±$30kLowest
8% 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
$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
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
$6,402
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.2%±12.1Lowest
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%
3.2%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1972Lowest
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
11% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
34 min
15% above MA
Work from home
7.7%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #161 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA
School district Freetown-Lakeville Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Whitman-Hanson
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Lowest
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.