Compare towns
Pepperell vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Rochester | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
5,837Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Rochester 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% |
20.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Rochester 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% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.5Lowest 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±$12k 19% above MA |
$120,273±$12kLowest 16% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
$599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,432±$743 19% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Rochester 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 |
$6,530 9% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Pepperell and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% MA: 62.5% |
88.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 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%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.