Compare towns
Hanson vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.2%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
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 | Hardwick | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
2,684Lowest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Hanson 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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±$10k 27% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% 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 |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Quabbin | Freetown-Lakeville |
| 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.