Compare towns
Douglas vs Mason 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).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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.
| Measure | Douglas | Mason | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
1,451Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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 89% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mason 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. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Mason 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 | — | — |
| School district | Douglas | Mason School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.