Compare towns
Douglas vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Springfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
154,749Highest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Douglas 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Webster 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #177 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Springfield | Webster |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Springfield Central High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.