Compare towns
Pepperell vs Upton vs Plainville 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 youngest population (median age 42.4).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Upton | Plainville | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
8,189Lowest |
17,551Highest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Upton and Plainville 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Plainville 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Pepperell 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%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. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Plainville High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
11.4Highest |
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.