Compare towns
Douglas vs Groton 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Pepperell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
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 | Groton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,390 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above 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% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Groton 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% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Douglas and Groton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.