Compare towns
Townsend vs Middlefield 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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Middlefield | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
352Lowest |
9,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest 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 |
$103,750±$23kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,891±$363 7% above MA |
| Middlefield and Freetown 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 |
$4,926Lowest 18% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield 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% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield 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 | — | #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 |
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.