Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sutton vs Dunstable 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Dunstable has the most expensive homes ($674k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Dunstable | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663Highest |
2,239Lowest |
3,408 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% 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%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dunstable 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable 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±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31k 61% above U.S. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas 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. |
$7,652 145% above U.S. |
$9,020Highest 189% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Dunstable 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 | — | #4 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Kearsarge Regional School District | Groton-Dunstable | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 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.