Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Stoneham vs Webster
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%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,663 |
23,355Highest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Pepperell 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±$10k 10% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Stoneham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Pepperell 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% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Stoneham | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Stoneham High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.