Compare towns
Douglas vs Springfield 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
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Douglas | Springfield | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,122Lowest |
9,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15k 78% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.