Compare towns
Webster vs Pepperell vs Plainfield 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 renters (40.2% rent).
Pepperell has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Pepperell | Plainfield | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
11,663Lowest |
15,141 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Whitman 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | North Middlesex | Plainfield School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.