Compare towns

Webster vs Quinebaug vs Douglas vs Webster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).

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.

MeasureWebsterQuinebaugDouglasWebster
People
Population
17,748Highest
1,193Lowest
9,207
12,228
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.9±2.9
about the U.S. average
56.5±1Highest
45% above U.S.
44±2.6
13% above U.S.
37.2±2.1Lowest
4% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
0%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
29.1%±9.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±2.5
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%
18.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Webster and Webster 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.
$105,181±$36k
30% above U.S.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% below 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.
$333,100±$14k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,228±$81
13% below U.S.
—
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,198±$85Lowest
15% below 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.
$3,703
19% above U.S.
$6,338Highest
103% above U.S.
$3,234Lowest
4% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±6.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
46.1%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
97%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
45.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1960
20 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older 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.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
8%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±17.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
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 #271 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
—
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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.