Compare towns
Douglas vs Middlebury 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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,220Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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% |
19.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlebury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$86,250±$18kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$417,400±$31kLowest 25% 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±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,201±$120Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,795Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.