Compare towns
Webster vs Lowell vs Webster vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Lowell | Webster | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
118,368Highest |
12,228 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas 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% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
| Lowell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lowell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
45.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Lowell | — | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Lowell High | — | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.8Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| 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.