Compare towns
Pepperell vs Ayer vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Ayer | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 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 | $124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.