Compare towns
Webster vs North Adams vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
12,606Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| North Adams and Whitman 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| North Adams and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
18.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.6Lowest |
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| 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.