What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phillipston has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Phillipston	Douglas
People
Population	1,895Lowest	9,207Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA
Kids under 18	17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Phillipston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,692±$14kLowest 9% below MA	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,400±$27kLowest 34% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$849Lowest 22% below MA	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Lowest 35% below MA	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Phillipston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 20 yrs newer than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	9.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Douglas
High school in town	—	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.