Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Salisbury vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Bridgewater | Salisbury | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
9,281Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 50% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
— |
| Salisbury and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,478 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Freedom 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Triton | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.