What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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	Townsend
People
Population	11,944Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±1.9Highest 9% above MA	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average
	Lakeville and Townsend 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%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Townsend 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%	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lakeville and Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA
	Lakeville and Townsend 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	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Lakeville and Townsend 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	$6,031Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lakeville and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lakeville 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	#96 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	North Middlesex
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Lowest	13.1Highest
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.