Compare towns
Clinton vs Webster vs Douglas vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Clinton | Webster | Douglas | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
12,228 |
9,207 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7 4% below MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | — | Douglas | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | — | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.