Compare towns
Freetown vs Ashby vs Pepperell
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 highest household income ($144k).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
3,211Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Freetown and Pepperell 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 |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Freetown and Pepperell 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±$484Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,034 about the MA average |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.