Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dighton 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 youngest population (median age 42.4).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Dighton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
8,193Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Dighton 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% |
21%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Dighton 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% |
17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell and Dighton 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% |
35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2Lowest 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$136,646±$19k 31% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Dighton and Pepperell 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 |
$1,405±$192 20% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Dighton 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 |
$6,452 8% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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 | #85 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.