Compare towns
Douglas vs Ashford vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the most expensive homes ($471k median).
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
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 | Douglas | Ashford | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
4,226Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ashford School District | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.