Compare towns

Springfield vs Webster vs Whitman

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldWebsterWhitman
People
Population
1,122Lowest
17,748Highest
15,295
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.4±1.8
4% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$72,895±$6kLowest
10% below U.S.
$108,933±$14kHighest
35% above U.S.
Whitman and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$361,500±$12kLowest
9% above U.S.
$472,700±$12kHighest
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
$1,771±$151Highest
25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,999Lowest
28% above U.S.
$5,824
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±13.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
Work from home
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield and Whitman 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 — #271 of 282 in MA #191 of 282 in MA
School district — Webster Whitman-Hanson
High school in town — Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.