Compare towns
Douglas vs Upton vs Northbridge vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Upton | Northbridge | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,189Lowest |
16,458Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| 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 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 7% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northbridge | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.