Compare towns
Freetown vs Townsend vs Rutland
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Townsend | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,285 |
9,100Lowest |
9,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±2.5Highest 4% above MA |
| Rutland and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland 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 38% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
| Rutland 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
| Freetown and Rutland 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 |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,657 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.8%±26.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #150 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | North Middlesex | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.