Compare towns
Douglas vs Norwell 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Norwell has the most expensive homes ($866k 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 | Norwell | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
11,361 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell 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% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Norwell 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% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest 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±$10k 46% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell 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% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Norwell | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Norwell High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.