Compare towns
Pepperell vs Auburn vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Pepperell | Auburn | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
6,119Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest 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+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$8,092Highest 159% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #44 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Auburn School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.