Compare towns
Townsend vs Epping 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 renters (18% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Freetown has the most expensive homes ($518k 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.
| Measure | Townsend | Epping | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
7,430Lowest |
9,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Epping School District | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.