Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton vs Sturbridge vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Mapleton | Sturbridge | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,884Lowest |
9,960 |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 64% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
| 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 29% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 105% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,188 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.