Compare towns
Douglas vs Dummerston vs Pepperell vs Webster
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).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Pepperell | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
2,090Lowest |
11,663 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Douglas 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% 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. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Pepperell 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| 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.