Compare towns
Pepperell vs Millis 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).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Millis | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
8,888Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$12kLowest 19% above MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Millis and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Millis and Douglas 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Pepperell 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Millis | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.