Compare towns
Douglas vs Orange 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 people working from home (20.9%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Orange | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,573Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Douglas and Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.0 |
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.