Compare towns

Douglas vs Ripton vs Windham vs Webster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k 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.

MeasureDouglasRiptonWindhamWebster
People
Population
9,207
508Lowest
594
17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29kHighest
41% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$353,900±$20kLowest
6% above U.S.
$361,500±$12k
9% above U.S.
Douglas and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
— —
$1,228±$81Lowest
13% below U.S.
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
103% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$3,999Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1962Lowest
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Douglas and Windham 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 — — #271 of 282 in MA
School district Douglas Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — 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
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U.S. 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.