Compare towns
Pepperell vs Brookline vs Dunstable 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
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Dunstable has the most expensive homes ($674k 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.
| Measure | Pepperell | Brookline | Dunstable | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
531Lowest |
3,408 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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% |
20%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable 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% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Brookline 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Brookline 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 | — | #4 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Groton-Dunstable | 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 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.