Compare towns
Webster vs Berlin vs Putnam vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Putnam | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,378Lowest |
9,292 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Berlin-Boylston | Putnam School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Putnam High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 9.5 |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.