Compare towns
Townsend vs Acushnet vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Acushnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Freetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
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 | Townsend | Acushnet | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
10,624Highest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Acushnet and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$143,884±$15kHighest 38% above MA |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,170±$354Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,647Lowest 22% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Acushnet 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Acushnet | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.