Compare towns
Douglas vs Pelham vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Williamsburg has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Pelham | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Highest |
1,335Lowest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Pelham 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% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Pelham 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% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Douglas and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
| Douglas and Williamsburg 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 |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg 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 | — | — |
| School district | Douglas | Pelham | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2 |
— | — |
| 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.