Compare towns
Douglas vs Grafton 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).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Grafton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
19,902Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest 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% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Grafton 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 |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Douglas and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Grafton and Pepperell 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 |
$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Grafton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton 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 | #67 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Grafton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Grafton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.