Compare towns
Douglas vs North Reading 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 Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k 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 | North Reading | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
15,765Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Douglas and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and North Reading 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 MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 46% above MA |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Douglas and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| North Reading and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 minLowest 15% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Reading | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | North Reading High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.