Compare towns
Webster vs North Adams vs Webster
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 homeowners (59.8%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | North Adams | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
12,606 |
12,228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
28.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
$63,837±$8k 39% below MA |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Highest 33% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$3,234 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| North Adams and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| North Adams and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.