Compare towns
Douglas vs Gardner vs Mapleton vs Webster
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).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Gardner | Mapleton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
21,148Highest |
1,884Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Douglas and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Douglas 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% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest 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. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster 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. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Gardner | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Gardner High | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | 11.6 |
| 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.