Compare towns
Webster vs Worcester vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering WebsterDudley
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%).
Webster has the most homeowners (59.8%).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,228Lowest |
207,055Highest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±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% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Worcester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 45.5% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Webster |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.