Compare towns
Freetown vs Wareham vs Douglas vs Dighton
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).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
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 | Wareham | Douglas | Dighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,285 |
23,302Highest |
9,207 |
8,193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 38% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
| 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 8% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$501,900±$47k 11% below MA |
| Freetown and Dighton 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 |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
| Freetown and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,188 13% below MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,452Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #85 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Wareham | Douglas | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | Douglas High School | Bristol County Agricultural High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
7.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.