What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Webster	Brockton
People
Population	17,748Lowest	105,386Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average	36.7±0.8Lowest 8% below MA
	Webster and Brockton 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%	25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Brockton and Webster 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	$80,115±$3kHighest 23% below MA
	Brockton 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±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA	$1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA	$4,820Highest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.5%±4.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Brockton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Lowest MA: 10%	13.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	32 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	8%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Webster and Brockton 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	#279 of 282 in MA
School district	Webster	Brockton
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Brockton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	17.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.