Compare towns
Douglas vs South Hooksett 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).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | South Hooksett | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
5,902Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Douglas and South Hooksett 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. |
$433,200±$40kLowest 30% 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. |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and South Hooksett 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.