Compare towns

Douglas vs Hopedale 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 people working from home (20.9%).
Hopedale has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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.

MeasureDouglasHopedaleWebster
People
Population
9,207
6,027Lowest
17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
10% above MA
44.4±5.2Highest
11% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
Hopedale and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±6.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Hopedale 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
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±4.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Hopedale 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%
48.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±3.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Hopedale 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±$10kHighest
46% above MA
$115,722±$19k
11% above MA
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29kHighest
16% below MA
$466,100±$28k
17% below MA
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
Douglas and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
15% below MA
$1,788±$223Highest
about the MA average
$1,228±$81Lowest
30% below MA
Hopedale 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
$6,868Highest
15% above MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.9%±30.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
79.5%
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1959Lowest
5 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
16% above MA
31 min
6% above MA
31 minLowest
5% above MA
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.2%±5.6
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Douglas and Hopedale 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 #125 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Hopedale Webster
High school in town Douglas High School Hopedale Jr Sr High Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
10.2
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.