Compare towns
Hanson vs Freetown vs Middleton
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 most kids (21.6% under 18).
Freetown has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Hanson | Freetown | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
9,285Lowest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
| Middleton and Hanson 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% |
21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±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+ | 19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hanson and Middleton 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% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hanson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kLowest 27% above MA |
$143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Middleton and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$518,200±$30kLowest 8% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% 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 | $6,402 7% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Freetown 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% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Middleton and Hanson 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Freetown-Lakeville | Middleton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.