Compare towns
Webster vs Halifax vs Douglas vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Halifax | Douglas | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
847Lowest |
9,207 |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Douglas and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Douglas 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% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clinton 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±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$89,781±$10k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$387,300±$19k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,402±$76 about the U.S. average |
| Douglas and Clinton 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. |
$4,991 60% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,654 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±6.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Halifax 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Halifax School District | Douglas | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Douglas High School | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | 7.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.