Compare towns
Webster vs Newfields vs Douglas vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Douglas has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Newfields | Douglas | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
2,023Lowest |
9,207 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Whitman 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Newfields School District | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Douglas High School | None in town |
| 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.