Compare towns
Townsend vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,605Lowest |
9,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$518,200±$30kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Townsend 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest 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 | — | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.