Compare towns
Freedom vs Lancaster vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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 | Freedom | Lancaster | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494 |
8,606Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freedom and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Freedom 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Freedom School District | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.