Compare towns
Douglas vs Colebrook vs Plainfield 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 highest household income ($152k).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Colebrook | Plainfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,494Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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% |
26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Plainfield 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 89% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Colebrook School District | Plainfield School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.