Compare towns
Douglas vs Upton vs Wolfeboro 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 most affordable homes ($471k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Wolfeboro | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,189 |
6,571Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 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±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| 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±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Upton and Wolfeboro 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. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Pepperell 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Upton 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
11.1 |
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| 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.