Compare towns
Acton vs Douglas vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Douglas has the most homeowners (83.8%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Acton | Douglas | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
9,207Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Acton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Douglas | Webster |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.