Compare towns
Douglas vs Hanover vs Upton 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 most affordable homes ($471k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Hanover | Upton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
14,845Highest |
8,189Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Upton 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% |
16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Pepperell 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Hanover and Upton 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 |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Hanover 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 |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1978Lowest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.3 |
11.2Highest |
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| 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.