Compare towns
Douglas vs Webster vs Windsor 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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Webster | Windsor | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
17,748 |
29,468Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±1.9 12% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Windsor 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% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$104,725±$8k 30% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$305,200±$11kLowest 8% below 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±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,681±$62Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Windsor 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,351 72% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±10.9 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Webster | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School | Windsor High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
10.2 |
— |
| 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.