Compare towns
Douglas vs Ledyard vs Preston 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).
Ledyard has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Ledyard | Preston | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
15,433Highest |
4,821Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
37.1±1.4Lowest 5% below U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Preston 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ledyard 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% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$107,975±$10kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$326,200±$27kLowest about the U.S. average |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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. |
$1,629±$247Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Ledyard 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. |
$6,371 104% above U.S. |
$4,749Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±27Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ledyard and Preston 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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 | #99 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ledyard School District | Preston School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ledyard High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.