Compare towns
Douglas vs Rowe vs Sutton vs Pepperell
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).
Rowe has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Rowe | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
453Lowest |
9,452 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Rowe and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe 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 MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 46% above MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Sutton 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 15% below MA |
$1,313±$576 25% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Douglas and Rowe 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 |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton 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% |
15.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Rowe | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.