Compare towns
Freetown vs Everett vs Pepperell 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 highest household income ($144k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Acushnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Everett | Pepperell | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
50,045Highest |
11,663 |
10,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
| Acushnet 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet and Pepperell 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Pepperell 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 38% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$89,503±$9k 14% below MA |
| 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±$30k 8% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$436,400±$34kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363 7% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,170±$354Lowest 34% below MA |
| Everett and Freetown 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$4,647Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Everett | North Middlesex | Acushnet |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.