Compare towns
Douglas vs Temple vs Webster 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).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Temple | Webster | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
1,363Lowest |
17,748Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Temple 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 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. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Contoocook Valley School District | Webster | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.