Compare towns
Pepperell vs Hadley 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).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Hadley | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,306Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Hadley 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 19% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Hadley 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 |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Hadley 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hadley | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Highest |
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.