Compare towns

Douglas vs Marshfield 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 highest household income ($152k).
Marshfield has the most expensive homes ($680k median).
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.

MeasureDouglasMarshfieldWebsterThompson
People
Population
9,207Lowest
25,879Highest
17,748
9,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
45.9±2.6
18% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Marshfield 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%
20.2%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.4%Highest
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%
4%±1.1
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.
$125,986±$8k
56% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$93,629±$18k
16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$680,300±$27kHighest
104% above U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$1,772±$123Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Marshfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$6,656Highest
113% 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%
68.1%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Marshfield and Thompson 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%
8.7%
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%
80.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1962Lowest
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.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
24.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Marshfield 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 #54 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT
School district Douglas Marshfield Webster Thompson School District
High school in town Douglas High School Marshfield High Bartlett High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
11.0
11.6Highest
7.9
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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.