Compare towns
Douglas vs North Reading 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 highest household income ($152k).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
15,765 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and North Reading 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% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$147,768±$25k 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| 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 16% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| 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 6% above MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | North Reading | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | North Reading High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
10.1 |
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.