Compare towns
Freetown vs Exeter 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 highest household income ($144k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46±2.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Acushnet and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Freetown and Acushnet 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%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% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$89,503±$9kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$436,400±$34kLowest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,170±$354Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Freetown and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,647Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acushnet and Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Acushnet |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.