Compare towns
Douglas vs Middlesex 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 renters (16.2% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Middlesex | Upton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,943Lowest |
8,189 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Upton and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%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. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above 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% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Upton 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.