Compare towns
Freetown vs Northbridge vs Berkley
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).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Berkley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Northbridge | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
16,458Highest |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Berkley and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berkley and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
| Berkley 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±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
| Freetown and Berkley 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 |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 13% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,018Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge and Berkley 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Northbridge | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.