Compare towns
Pepperell vs Bedford 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).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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 | Pepperell | Bedford | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
23,746Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Pepperell 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% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 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 | $124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Pepperell 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bedford School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.