Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Townsend 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 expensive homes ($482k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Townsend | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Townsend 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 |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$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% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Webster 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% 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 |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.