Compare towns
Webster vs Quinebaug 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 most renters (40.2% rent).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Quinebaug | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
1,193Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest 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±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$105,181±$36k 30% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% 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. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Douglas 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quinebaug 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 |
| School district | Webster | — | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.