Compare towns
Freetown vs Ogunquit vs Townsend vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Ogunquit | Townsend | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,100 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Freetown 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Townsend 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Douglas 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #161 of 282 in MA | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | — | North Middlesex | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.

