Compare towns
Townsend vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Townsend | Douglas | Sutton | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
9,207 |
9,452 |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±3.3 6% above MA |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$124,073±$12k 19% above MA |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$482,100±$14k 14% below MA |
| Sutton and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,295±$238 27% below MA |
| Douglas and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,698 12% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Douglas | Sutton | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
7.2Lowest |
12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.