Compare towns
Douglas vs Fall River vs Lawrence 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).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Fall River | Lawrence | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
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% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence 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% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
16.8% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 46% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
| 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 15% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Lawrence 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 |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.3 |
13.6Highest |
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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.