Compare towns
Douglas vs Bow vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Pepperell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
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 | Bow | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,335Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Bow and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Bow School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.