Compare towns
Webster vs Springfield vs Douglas vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Springfield | Douglas | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
154,749Highest |
9,207Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Douglas and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| 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 33% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Springfield | Douglas | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Springfield Central High | Douglas High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.2 |
7.2Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.