Compare towns

Freetown vs Middleton vs Fall River

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 most kids (21.1% under 18).
Middleton has the most people working from home (12.5%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).

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.

MeasureFreetownMiddletonFall River
People
Population
9,285Lowest
9,816
94,082Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.2
about the MA average
43.1±2Highest
8% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
Middleton and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
Freetown and Fall River 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%
18.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Middleton 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%
41.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Fall River and Middleton 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
$167,402±$29kHighest
61% above MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
Middleton 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
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,891±$363Highest
7% above MA
$1,407±$284
20% below MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
Freetown and Middleton 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
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.2%±12.1
MA: 51.8%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Fall River and Freetown 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%
3.4%
MA: 10%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%
MA: 62.5%
92.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
11% above MA
30 min
3% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
Work from home
7.7%±2.8
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Middleton and Freetown 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 #71 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA
School district Freetown-Lakeville Middleton Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town None in town None in town B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
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.