Compare towns
Pepperell vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,663 |
11,713Highest |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Wells and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Wells 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.