Compare towns
Freetown vs Lawrence vs Fall River 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).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k 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 | Lawrence | Fall River | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285Lowest |
88,736 |
94,082Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
| Pepperell and Freetown 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Lawrence 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 |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below 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 |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Freetown and Lawrence 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 |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Lawrence | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.