Compare towns
Webster vs Ayer vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Ayer | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,098Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Ayer and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,911 18% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #113 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 |
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.