Compare towns
Pepperell vs Middlesex vs Douglas vs Dunstable
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dunstable has the most expensive homes ($674k median).
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 | Middlesex | Douglas | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,943Lowest |
9,207 |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.