Compare towns
Berlin 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
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Berlin | Douglas | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
9,207 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | $121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Berlin and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Douglas 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Douglas | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— |
| 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.