Compare towns
Freetown vs Putney 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 highest household income ($144k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Putney | Fall River | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
2,622Lowest |
94,082Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2 5% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Putney 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% |
48.6%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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Freetown and Pepperell 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. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Fall River 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #262 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.