Compare towns
Douglas vs Norwell 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 the oldest population (median age 44).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k median).
Pepperell has the shortest commute (34 min average).
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 | Norwell | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,361 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| 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%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell 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% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Norwell 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% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$124,073±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Norwell | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Norwell High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| 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.