Compare towns

Fall River vs Townsend 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).
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.

MeasureFall RiverTownsendEverettFreetown
People
Population
94,082Highest
9,100Lowest
50,045
9,285
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%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
40.9±3.3Highest
about the MA average
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
40.9±3.2Highest
about the MA average
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2
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%
17.1%±2.1
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Freetown and Townsend 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%
35.5%
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%
5.1%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Everett and Townsend 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
$121,528±$23k
17% above MA
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$143,884±$15kHighest
38% above MA
Freetown and Townsend 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
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$518,200±$30k
8% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,469±$313
17% 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
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,880
19% below MA
$5,188
13% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
39.2%±12.1Lowest
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%
8.9%
MA: 10%
14.7%
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82%
MA: 62.5%
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
86.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
19 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 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
37 minHighest
27% above MA
35 min
20% above MA
32 min
11% above MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.7%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #161 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical North Middlesex Everett Freetown-Lakeville
High school in town B M C Durfee High North Middlesex Regional Everett High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
13.1Highest
12.1
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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.