Compare towns
Freetown vs Dummerston vs Acushnet vs Pepperell
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Acushnet has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Dummerston | Acushnet | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,090Lowest |
10,624 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
46±2.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Acushnet and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$89,503±$9kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$436,400±$34k 31% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,170±$354Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 66% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,647 49% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acushnet and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Pepperell 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 | — | #118 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Acushnet | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.