Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Windham
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Pepperell has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,663 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Pepperell 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.