Compare towns
Douglas vs North Brookfield vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
North Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($359k median).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | North Brookfield | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
4,760 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
45.2±9.4 13% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
38.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and North Brookfield 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 46% above MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA |
$457,300±$40k 19% below MA |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,139±$301 35% below MA |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$4,176Lowest 30% below MA |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
10.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Brookfield | — |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | North Brookfield High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Highest |
5.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.