Compare towns
Pepperell vs Townsend vs Woonsocket 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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Townsend | Woonsocket | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
9,100Lowest |
43,521Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest 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±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below 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. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Woonsocket 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | North Middlesex | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Woonsocket High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
15.2Highest |
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.