Compare towns
Freetown vs Berkley 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Berkley | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
6,829Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Berkley and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Berkley 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% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Berkley 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 |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Berkley 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 |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA |
| Freetown and Berkley 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 |
— | $1,295±$238Lowest 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 |
$6,018 about the MA average |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell and Berkley 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Berkley | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.