Compare towns
Webster vs Mapleton vs West Springfield Town vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Mapleton | West Springfield Town | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
1,884Lowest |
28,772 |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.1±2.6 3% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Milford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and West Springfield Town 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$69,371±$7kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$96,365±$4kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Milford and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$321,500±$16k 3% below U.S. |
$476,700±$12kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68 19% below U.S. |
$1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
$5,869Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milford and Mapleton 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 | — | #218 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | West Springfield | Milford |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | West Springfield High | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.