Compare towns
Webster vs North Adams vs Clinton
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 kids (19.6% under 18).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | North Adams | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
12,606Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| North Adams and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Clinton 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% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| North Adams 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.4% MA: 47.3% |
36.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| North Adams and Clinton 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 |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$387,300±$19kHighest 31% below MA |
| Clinton and Webster 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 |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,654Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
8.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
54.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Clinton and North Adams 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 | #268 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.