Compare towns
Pepperell vs Wareham vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Wareham | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
23,302Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 6% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell and Wareham 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 19% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| 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±$238Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Wareham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wareham | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Wareham Senior High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.