Compare towns
Acton vs Douglas vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Acton | Douglas | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,207Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Douglas | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
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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.