What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleborough has the most affordable homes ($469k 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	Middleborough
People
Population	11,944Lowest	24,505Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±1.9Highest 9% above MA	43.4±2.1Lowest 9% above MA
	Lakeville and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lakeville and Middleborough 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%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	32%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,984±$11kHighest 29% above MA	$97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$565,900±$27kHighest about the MA average	$468,700±$18kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA	$1,706±$72Lowest 3% below MA
	Lakeville and Middleborough 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	$6,023Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Highest MA: 51.8%	57.2%±11.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lakeville and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	6.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 14% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	13.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lakeville and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	Middleborough
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	11.3Highest
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.