Compare towns
Hanson vs Mapleton vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
1,884Lowest |
9,337 |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest 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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% 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 | $6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% 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% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Thompson 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% |
5.9% 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% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% 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% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Mapleton 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Thompson School District | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.