Compare towns

Douglas vs Colebrook 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 most people working from home (20.9%).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

MeasureDouglasColebrookWebsterThompson
People
Population
9,207
1,494Lowest
17,748Highest
9,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
52.1±5
34% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Thompson and Colebrook 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%
17.9%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
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%
26%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Colebrook and Thompson 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%
36.6%
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%
5.4%±1.8
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.
$111,250±$17k
38% 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.
$342,800±$19k
3% above U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,333±$626
6% below U.S.
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Douglas and Colebrook 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.
$6,211
99% 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%
42.1%±55
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%
8.3%
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%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
34 minHighest
29% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Thompson 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 — #271 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT
School district Douglas Colebrook School District Webster Thompson School District
High school in town Douglas High School None in town Bartlett High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
—
11.6Highest
7.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.