Compare towns
Webster vs Berlin 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).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Berlin | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,378Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Berlin and Douglas 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 |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Webster 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% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1986 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Berlin-Boylston | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| 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.