Compare towns
Pepperell vs Reading vs Townsend 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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Reading | Townsend | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
699Lowest |
9,100 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Townsend 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Townsend 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | North Middlesex | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.