Compare towns
Douglas vs Ayer vs Webster vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
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 | Douglas | Ayer | Webster | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,645Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | Webster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.5 |
11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.