Compare towns
Freetown vs Ashby vs Fall River vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Freetown | Ashby | Fall River | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
3,211Lowest |
94,082Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
$115,598±$9k 11% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Freetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Freetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 13% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Fall River and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Ashby 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 | #161 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | North Middlesex | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.