Compare towns
Hanson vs Groton 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).
Groton has the most people working from home (27.5%).
Freetown has the most renters (13.9% rent).
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 | Groton | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660 |
11,390Highest |
9,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Hanson and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hanson 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% |
17.3%±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% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Hanson 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 |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36k 5% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$518,200±$30kLowest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% 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 | $6,402 7% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Groton 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% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Groton-Dunstable | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
13.7Lowest |
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| 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.