Compare towns

Freetown vs Surry 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

Freetown has the most expensive homes ($518k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).

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.

MeasureFreetownSurryDouglas
People
Population
9,285Highest
1,052Lowest
9,207
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.7±5.1Highest
15% above U.S.
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
Surry and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±6.2Lowest
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%
23.3%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Surry 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%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.6%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Surry and Douglas 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.
$110,125±$25kLowest
36% 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±$30kHighest
56% above U.S.
$331,400±$23kLowest
about the U.S. average
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
Freetown and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,891±$363
34% above U.S.
$1,955±$374Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,503±$697Lowest
6% above U.S.
Surry and Freetown 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.
$6,384Highest
105% above U.S.
$6,338
103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.2%±12.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±74.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Freetown and Douglas 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%
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
7.7%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Surry 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 — #177 of 282 in MA
School district Freetown-Lakeville — Douglas
High school in town None in town — Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
7.2
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.