Compare towns
Douglas vs Orange vs Thompson 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 people working from home (20.9%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Orange | Thompson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
14,315Highest |
9,337 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
45.6±2.4 17% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Orange 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 89% above U.S. |
$142,325±$10k 76% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Orange 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. |
$491,500±$17kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Orange and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,172±$161Highest 54% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$8,988Highest 188% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±12.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Thompson 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Thompson School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 7.9Highest |
— |
| 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.