What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k median).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pembroke	Douglas
People
Population	18,382Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.5±3.3Highest 14% above MA	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA
	Pembroke and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pembroke and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,285±$17kLowest 41% above MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
	Douglas and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA	$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA	$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA
	Pembroke and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,585Highest 10% above MA	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Pembroke and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	4.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	34 minLowest 16% above MA
Work from home	21.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Pembroke 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	#82 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Pembroke	Douglas
High school in town	Pembroke High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.