Compare towns
Douglas vs Webster vs Mapleton vs Thompson
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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Webster | Mapleton | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,207 |
17,748Highest |
1,884Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 89% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% 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. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Thompson 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 | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Douglas | Webster | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Bartlett High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | 7.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.