Compare towns
Hanson vs Ayer vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Hanson | Ayer | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
| Hanson and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1 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+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$143,884±$15kHighest 38% 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 | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% 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 | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,891±$363Highest 7% 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 | $6,402Highest 7% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Ayer Shirley School District | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.