Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Windham 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
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Townsend | Windham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
16,038Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Windham High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.