Compare towns
Douglas vs Stoneham vs Thompson 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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Stoneham | Thompson | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
23,355Highest |
9,337 |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Stoneham 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. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Stoneham | Thompson School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Stoneham High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.7Highest |
7.9 |
— |
| 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.