What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Hopedale has the most people working from home (13.2%).

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	Hopedale
People
Population	17,748Highest	6,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average	44.4±5.2Highest 11% above MA
	Hopedale and Webster 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%	22.4%±6.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hopedale and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hopedale 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%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hopedale 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	$115,722±$19kHighest 11% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$466,100±$28kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA	$1,788±$223Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 33% below MA	$6,868Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±30.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hopedale 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 MA: 10%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.2%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hopedale and Webster 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	#125 of 282 in MA
School district	Webster	Hopedale
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Hopedale Jr Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.