Compare towns
Douglas vs Ayer vs Uxbridge vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Douglas | Ayer | Uxbridge | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,645Lowest |
14,473 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.7±2.8 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Douglas and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.5Lowest 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 | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$124,725±$7k 20% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$441,100±$25k 22% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,555±$265Highest 12% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Uxbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,836 about the MA average |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±5.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.9% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #183 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | Uxbridge | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Uxbridge High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.5 |
11.6Highest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.