Compare towns
Freetown vs Newfields vs Fall River vs Pepperell
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 most kids (21.1% under 18).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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.
| Measure | Freetown | Newfields | Fall River | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,023Lowest |
94,082Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Pepperell 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 78% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Freetown and Newfields 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fall River and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | — | #262 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Newfields School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.