Compare towns
Douglas vs Preston vs Webster vs Pepperell
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).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Preston | Webster | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
4,821Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Preston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$1,433±$1k about the U.S. average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Preston 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. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Preston and Webster 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Preston School District | Webster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.