What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopedale has the most people working from home (13.2%).

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hopedale	Webster
People
Population	6,027Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average
	Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,722±$19kHighest 11% above MA	$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,100±$28kHighest 17% below MA	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,868Highest 15% above MA	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	12.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	13.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hopedale and Webster 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	#125 of 282 in MA	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	Hopedale	Webster
High school in town	Hopedale Jr Sr High	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.