Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Wells
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 highest household income ($152k).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,663 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Wells 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.