Compare towns
Webster vs Ayer vs Douglas
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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
8,645Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Webster 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% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Douglas 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% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Douglas 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 |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Douglas 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 |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
| Douglas and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster 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% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Douglas 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ayer Shirley School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.5 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.