Compare towns
Webster vs Worcester vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.
| Measure | Webster | Worcester | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Lowest |
207,055Highest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
$70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
| Worcester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234 46% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
| North Adams and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
18.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
51%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and North Adams 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.