Compare towns
Webster vs Springfield vs Whitman
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Springfield | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
1,122Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman 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% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Whitman 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. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Whitman 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.