Compare towns
Pepperell vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dunstable has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Douglas | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
2,023Lowest |
9,207 |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% 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. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable and Douglas 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Douglas 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dunstable 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 54% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Douglas 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
2.4% 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% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | 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.