Compare towns
Douglas vs Lancaster vs Killingly 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 highest household income ($152k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Lancaster | Killingly | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,606Lowest |
17,867Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 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±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 6% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Nashoba | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.