Compare towns
Douglas vs Freeport vs Pepperell
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).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Freeport | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,802Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest 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. |
$107,326±$19kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Freeport and Pepperell 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. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Freeport 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. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | RSU 05 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.