Compare towns
Lakeville vs Harvard vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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.
| Measure | Lakeville | Harvard | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,944Highest |
6,927Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±1.9Lowest 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Douglas 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Lakeville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,984±$11kLowest 29% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $565,900±$27k about the MA average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Lakeville and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,536Lowest 8% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±18.2 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Freetown-Lakeville | Harvard | Douglas |
| High school in town | Apponequet Regional High | The Bromfield High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.0Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.