Compare towns
Townsend vs Warren 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 people working from home (10.5%).
Warren has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Warren | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
5,009Lowest |
9,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
40.9±3.2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% 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 |
$333,700±$35kLowest 41% below MA |
$518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% 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 |
$4,530Lowest 24% below MA |
$5,188 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Warren 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Quaboag Regional | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
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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.