Soil series profile
Freetown soil series
Freetown is a very poorly drained soil with a mucky peat surface, mapped on 197,561 acres in 35 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group B/D.
- Drainage class
- Very poorly drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- B/D 90% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- Not reported
- Mapped area
- 198k acres in 35 counties, 5 states
Typical Freetown profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 in (Oe) | Mucky peat | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | 82% |
| 2–79 in (Oa) | Muck | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | 87% |
What this means
What Freetown soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Organic muck or peat is the most common topsoil (95% of mapped Freetown acres). It is rich and holds water, but is often wet, can be acidic, and settles when drained. The most common surface texture is mucky peat (95% of mapped Freetown acres).
100% of mapped Freetown acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.
For lawns and yards
On 100% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 100% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Freetown soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.
Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.
Flooding is mapped on 90% of the acres (0% occasional, 6% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Freetown soil is found
Mapped acres
Freetown is mapped in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex County, MA | 32,402 | 6.2% |
| Plymouth County, MA | 26,541 | 6.3% |
| Bristol County, MA | 22,319 | 6.2% |
| Worcester County, MA | 20,666 | 2.1% |
| Essex County, MA | 15,804 | 5.0% |
| Pike County, PA | 11,219 | 3.2% |
| Washington County, RI | 8,203 | 3.8% |
| Barnstable County, MA | 6,718 | 2.7% |
| Norfolk County, MA | 5,588 | 4.0% |
| Suffolk County, MA | 5,588 | 4.0% |
| Hampden County, MA | 4,176 | 1.1% |
| Monroe County, PA | 4,033 | 1.0% |
| Hampshire County, MA | 3,283 | 0.9% |
| Windham County, CT | 3,276 | 1.0% |
| Providence County, RI | 3,082 | 1.1% |
| New London County, CT | 2,829 | 0.6% |
| Litchfield County, CT | 2,781 | 0.5% |
| Luzerne County, PA | 2,369 | 0.4% |
| Fairfield County, CT | 2,033 | 0.5% |
| Kent County, RI | 1,998 | 1.7% |
| Franklin County, MA | 1,853 | 0.4% |
| New Haven County, CT | 1,330 | 0.3% |
| Hartford County, CT | 1,239 | 0.3% |
| Susquehanna County, PA | 1,156 | 0.2% |
| Tolland County, CT | 1,065 | 0.4% |
| Middlesex County, CT | 905 | 0.4% |
| Nantucket County, MA | 814 | 2.7% |
| Dukes County, MA | 807 | 1.2% |
| Newport County, RI | 753 | 1.1% |
| Suffolk County, NY | 298 | 0.1% |
| Clinton County, PA | 258 | 0.0% |
| Nassau County, NY | 114 | 0.1% |
| Wayne County, PA | 79 | 0.0% |
| Bristol County, RI | 39 | 0.2% |
| Lackawanna County, PA | 21 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Freetown acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 100.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Freetown acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 0 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 100% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on 90% of acres (0% occasional, 6% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 0–1% (median 0%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 82%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 100.0% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 0.0% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 10.4% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 89.6% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.0% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- All map unit components named Freetown (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 197,561 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Freetown components. The profile comes from the single largest Freetown component. Full methodology.