Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Windsor Locks 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
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% 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 | Sutton | Windsor Locks | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,452 |
12,579Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sutton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Pepperell 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. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton 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. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 8% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Windsor Locks 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. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Sutton | Windsor Locks School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Windsor Locks High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
8.9 |
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.