Compare towns
Douglas vs Princeton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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 | Princeton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
3,529Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Princeton and Douglas 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%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton 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% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton 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% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±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±$10k 46% above MA |
$158,750±$46kHighest 53% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
| Princeton and Douglas 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 |
$520,500±$48kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Princeton and Douglas 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 |
$897±$852Lowest 49% 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 | $6,338 6% above MA |
$6,633Highest 11% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton 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% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%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 min 16% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Wachusett | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | None in town | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.