Compare towns
Douglas vs Bedford 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 most homeowners (83.8%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($899k median).
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 | Bedford | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
14,727 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.3±1.6Highest 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Bedford and Douglas 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% |
20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Bedford 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% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Bedford and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #7 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Bedford | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Bedford High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.2 |
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.