Compare towns
Hanson vs Windham vs Ripton 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 expensive homes ($534k median).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Windham | Ripton | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
594 |
508Lowest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% 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. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% 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. |
— | — | $1,891±$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. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,188 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Ripton 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | — | — | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 | 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.