Compare towns
Fall River vs Hardwick vs Everett 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Hardwick | Everett | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
2,684Lowest |
50,045 |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Freetown 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Freetown 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% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$518,200±$30k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,891±$363 7% above MA |
| Everett and Freetown 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 |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,188Highest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Everett 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and Hardwick 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Quabbin | Everett | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.