Compare towns
Berkley vs Springfield vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Freetown has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
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 | Berkley | Springfield | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
154,749Highest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
| Berkley and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
| Berkley and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
| Freetown and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Highest about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berkley and Springfield 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Springfield | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.