Compare towns
Douglas vs North Reading vs Thompson 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).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Douglas | North Reading | Thompson | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
15,765 |
9,337 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43±2.8 11% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Douglas and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
| North Reading 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. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Thompson 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #130 of 149 in CT | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Reading | Thompson School District | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | North Reading High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.1 |
7.9 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.