Compare towns
Freetown vs Holbrook vs Townsend vs Pepperell
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).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Holbrook | Townsend | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
11,380 |
9,100Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Holbrook 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% |
21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Holbrook 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% |
19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Holbrook 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% |
34.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Holbrook 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 |
$115,210±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above 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±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
$465,400±$21k 17% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| 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 7% above MA |
$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,105 about the MA average |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±18.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Holbrook 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% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Holbrook | North Middlesex | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
13.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.