Compare towns
Becket 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
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Becket | Douglas | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Lowest |
9,207 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Becket and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Becket and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±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 | $80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82kLowest 36% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Becket and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Becket 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Douglas | Webster |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| 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.