Compare towns
Webster vs Putnam vs Upton vs Douglas
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 youngest population (median age 39.9).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k 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 | Putnam | Upton | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
9,292 |
8,189Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Douglas 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 10% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Upton and Douglas 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Putnam School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Putnam High School | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
9.5 |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.