Compare towns
Pepperell vs Nelson 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 most expensive homes ($482k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
648Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% 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. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 |
| School district | North Middlesex | Nelson School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.