Compare towns

Pepperell vs Griswold 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).
Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

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.

MeasurePepperellGriswoldDouglas
People
Population
11,663Highest
11,530
9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±3.3Lowest
9% above U.S.
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
Griswold 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%
18.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.2%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Pepperell and Griswold 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
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
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±$12k
54% above U.S.
$78,719±$11kLowest
about the U.S. average
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
$275,900±$42kLowest
17% below U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% 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.
$1,177±$65Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,698Highest
115% above U.S.
$4,628Lowest
48% above U.S.
$6,338
103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Griswold 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%
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #118 of 149 in CT #177 of 282 in MA
School district North Middlesex Griswold School District Douglas
High school in town None in town Griswold High School Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5Highest
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.