Compare towns
Douglas vs Groton vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Freetown has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Douglas | Groton | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,390Highest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$143,884±$15kLowest 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
| Freetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Groton and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.