Compare towns
Douglas vs Boylston 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 kids (21.2% under 18).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Boylston | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
4,948Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Boylston 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% |
18%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston 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% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Boylston 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 |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Boylston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 6% above MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Boylston 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% 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 |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Berlin-Boylston | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Tahanto Regional High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.1 |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.