Compare towns
Webster vs Lancaster vs Webster 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
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Lancaster | Webster | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
3,216Lowest |
12,228 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Douglas 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above 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 | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | White Mountains Regional 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 | 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.