Compare towns
Webster vs Berlin vs West Springfield Town
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
2,880Lowest |
28,772Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town 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. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Webster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town 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% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and West Springfield Town 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.