Compare towns
Freetown vs Avon 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 homeowners (86.1%).
Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Avon | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Highest |
4,774Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Avon and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Avon 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% |
30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Avon and Douglas 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 |
$130,625±$33kLowest 26% above 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 |
$509,600±$62k 9% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Freetown and Avon 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 |
$1,558±$265 12% below MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Freetown and Avon 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 |
$6,627Highest 11% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Avon and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #212 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Avon | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Avon Middle High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.