Compare towns
Douglas vs Pepperell vs Worcester
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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,663 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% 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±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Douglas and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest 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 | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Middlesex | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 14.6Highest |
| 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.