Compare towns
Douglas vs Everett vs Fall River 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 highest household income ($152k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Everett | Fall River | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Fall River 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 46% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Everett and Douglas 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 |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.