Compare towns
Webster vs Stoneham vs Douglas 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).
Stoneham has the most expensive homes ($672k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Whitman has the oldest housing (typical home built 1957).
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 | Stoneham | Douglas | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748 |
23,355Highest |
9,207Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Douglas and Stoneham 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% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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% |
20.4%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 30% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Stoneham | Douglas | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Stoneham High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.7 |
7.2Lowest |
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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.