Compare towns
Pepperell vs Princeton 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).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Princeton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
3,529Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Princeton 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton 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% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Princeton 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 |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Princeton 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 |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| 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 12% above MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wachusett | 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 |
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.