Compare towns
Douglas vs Shirley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
6,976Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Shirley 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 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%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Pepperell 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% 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 |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
| Douglas and Shirley 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.