Compare towns
Webster vs Plainfield vs Douglas 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 the most renters (40.2% rent).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Plainfield | Douglas | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
616Lowest |
9,207 |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | 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 |
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.