Compare towns
Townsend vs Brookline vs Freetown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Freetown has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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 | Brookline | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
5,736Lowest |
9,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freetown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15k 78% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,891±$363 34% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Freetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Brookline School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.