Compare towns
Freetown vs Windham 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 most renters (13.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Windham | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
16,038Highest |
10,660 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanson and Windham 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 78% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10kLowest 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363 34% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Windham School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.