Compare towns

Freetown vs Douglas vs Fall River vs Acushnet

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).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Acushnet has the oldest population (median age 46).

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.

MeasureFreetownDouglasFall RiverAcushnet
People
Population
9,285
9,207Lowest
94,082Highest
10,624
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+2.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.2
about the MA average
44±2.6
10% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
46±2.8Highest
15% above MA
Acushnet and Douglas 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%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.3%±3.9
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%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
23.9%±3.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
26.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.6
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
$152,267±$10kHighest
46% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$89,503±$9k
14% below 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
$470,600±$29k
16% below MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$436,400±$34k
22% 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
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,170±$354
34% 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
$6,338Highest
6% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$4,647
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.2%±12.1
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
65.4%±15.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Acushnet and Fall River 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%
4.8%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
11% above MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
28 min
4% below MA
Work from home
7.7%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #161 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #118 of 282 in MA
School district Freetown-Lakeville Douglas Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Acushnet
High school in town None in town Douglas High School B M C Durfee High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
11.3Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.