Compare towns
Freetown vs Newfields 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%).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,023Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
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% |
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% |
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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest 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% |
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. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 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 | $5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Newfields 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer 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 |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.