Compare towns
Freetown vs Brookline vs Acushnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Freetown has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Acushnet has the most affordable homes ($436k 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 | Freetown | Brookline | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
5,736Lowest |
10,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
46±2.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Acushnet 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 78% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$89,503±$9kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$436,400±$34kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363 34% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,170±$354Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,647Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acushnet and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Brookline School District | Acushnet |
| 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 |
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.