Compare towns
Webster vs Lee vs Whitman vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% 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 | Lee | Whitman | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
5,719Lowest |
15,295 |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 30% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Whitman and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Whitman 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lee | Whitman-Hanson | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.