Compare towns
Fall River vs Everett vs Walpole vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Walpole has the most people working from home (28.2%).
Freetown has the most homeowners (86.1%).
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 | Fall River | Everett | Walpole | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
50,045 |
26,388 |
9,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40.9±1.2Highest about the MA average |
40.9±3.2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
| Walpole and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,891±$363 7% above MA |
| Walpole and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Everett High | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.