Compare towns
Somerset vs Webster vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerset has the highest household income ($113k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% 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 | Somerset | Webster | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298 |
17,748Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Fall River and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Somerset and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18kHighest 25% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| Somerset and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$93Highest 28% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Somerset and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,977Highest 17% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerset 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 | #132 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Webster | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | Bartlett High School | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.