Compare towns
Webster vs Reading vs Clinton 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 affordable homes ($362k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Reading | Clinton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
25,612Highest |
15,563 |
15,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Reading 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton 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±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Reading and Whitman 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Reading | Clinton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Reading Memorial High | Clinton Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.