Compare towns
Douglas vs Glocester vs Pascoag 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Pascoag has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Glocester | Pascoag | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
10,221 |
4,410Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
39.1±3.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Glocester 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest 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% |
22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Glocester and Pascoag 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$113,508±$7kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$121,369±$34k 50% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$365,000±$47kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above 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±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
$1,319±$444 7% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Glocester 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. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,395Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±27.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Glocester 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ponaganset High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.