Compare towns
Douglas vs Epping vs Pepperell vs Thompson
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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Epping | Pepperell | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,430Lowest |
11,663Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Epping and Douglas 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Thompson 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Epping School District | North Middlesex | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Epping High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— | 7.9 |
| 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.