Compare towns
Douglas vs Jackson vs Upton 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 the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Upton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
897Lowest |
8,189 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Douglas 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. |
$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Jackson 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Jackson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.