Compare towns
Townsend vs Athol vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Athol | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
12,011Highest |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Athol and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Freetown 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% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Freetown 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 |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% 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±$22k 23% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% 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 |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Athol-Royalston | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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| 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.