Compare towns
Webster vs Boylston 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 renters (40.2% rent).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Boylston | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
4,948Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
| Boylston and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6Lowest 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% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Webster 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% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Douglas and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Boylston 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 |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Boylston 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% 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 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Berlin-Boylston | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Tahanto Regional High | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.1 |
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.