Compare towns
Douglas vs Rye vs Pepperell vs Webster
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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Rye | Pepperell | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
5,611Lowest |
11,663 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rye and Douglas 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Rye School District | North Middlesex | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| 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.