Compare towns
Douglas vs Ayer vs Webster vs Thompson
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 highest household income ($152k).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Douglas | Ayer | Webster | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
8,645Lowest |
17,748Highest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| 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±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Ayer Shirley School District | Webster | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.5 |
11.6Highest |
7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.