Compare towns
Douglas vs Dunstable 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 most people working from home (20.9%).
Dunstable has the most expensive homes ($674k 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 | Dunstable | Webster | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
3,408Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.5±2.4 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest 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%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Dunstable and Douglas 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Webster 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 46% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Douglas and Dunstable 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 |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | Webster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.