Compare towns
Douglas vs Melrose 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 homeowners (83.8%).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Melrose | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
29,650Highest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Melrose 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 46% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Melrose 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 |
$7,578Highest 26% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Melrose 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Melrose | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Melrose High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.