Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Stoneham
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 highest household income ($152k).
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Pepperell | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,663 |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 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%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Stoneham 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% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Pepperell 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% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Stoneham 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% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.