Compare towns
Pepperell vs Pepperell vs Douglas vs Freetown
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 most renters (50.8% rent).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Freetown has the most expensive homes ($518k 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 | Pepperell | Douglas | Freetown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
1,971Lowest |
9,207 |
9,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
46.4±6.3Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
40.9±3.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Pepperell 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% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Freetown 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% |
18.7%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.8%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Pepperell 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$143,884±$15k 38% above MA |
| Douglas and Freetown 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 |
$457,300±$40kLowest 19% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$518,200±$30kHighest 8% below MA |
| Freetown and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 27% below MA |
$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,891±$363Highest 7% above MA |
| Freetown 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 |
$6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$5,188Lowest 13% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.2%±12.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
10.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.5%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.7%±2.8Lowest 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #161 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Douglas | Freetown-Lakeville |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.