Compare towns
Freetown vs Lancaster vs Douglas
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Lancaster | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Freetown 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above 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±$30k 8% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Lancaster and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363 7% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
| Lancaster and Freetown 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 |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Nashoba | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.