Compare towns
Pepperell vs Dummerston vs Douglas vs Pepperell
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).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Douglas | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
2,090 |
9,207 |
1,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
| 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±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,871Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.