Compare towns
Douglas vs Hadley vs Maynard 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).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Hadley | Maynard | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
5,306Lowest |
10,712 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Maynard 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% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Pepperell 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 |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Maynard and Hadley 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 |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Hadley | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Hopkins Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
7.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.