Compare towns
Webster vs Lenox vs Douglas vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Lenox | Douglas | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
5,079Lowest |
9,207 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Lenox 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% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lenox | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lenox Memorial High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
7.6 |
7.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.