Compare towns
Hanson vs Williston 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%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
10,144 |
9,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% 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±$860Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Williston 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. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Williston 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 History | 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.