Compare towns
Webster vs Brookline 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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Brookline | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
5,736Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Douglas 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline 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 10% below U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Douglas 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Douglas 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% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Brookline School District | 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 |
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.