What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

Charlton has the most affordable homes ($428k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lakeville	Charlton
People
Population	11,944Lowest	13,435Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±1.9Highest 9% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Lakeville and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Charlton and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,984±$11kHighest 29% above MA	$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA
	Lakeville and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$565,900±$27kHighest about the MA average	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA	$1,381±$415Lowest 22% below MA
	Lakeville and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,536Highest 8% below MA	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lakeville and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest MA: 10%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lakeville and Charlton 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	#96 of 282 in MA	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.