Compare towns
Webster vs Danby vs Douglas vs Gardner
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).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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 | Danby | Douglas | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,133Lowest |
9,207 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 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% |
24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danby 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 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. |
$77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$272,400±$41kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster 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. |
$4,543 46% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gardner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Gardner 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Douglas | Gardner |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.