Compare towns
Pepperell vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Dunstable has the highest household income ($209k).
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 | Douglas | Sutton | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
9,207 |
9,452 |
3,408Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Sutton 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$674,000±$30kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,325±$637 25% below MA |
| Douglas and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 12% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$9,020Highest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dunstable and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Douglas | Sutton | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.