Compare towns
Webster vs Thompson 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
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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.
| Measure | Webster | Thompson | Douglas | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
9,337 |
9,207Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,198±$85 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. |
$3,822 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%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. |
1963 17 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. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Thompson School District | Douglas | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Douglas High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
7.9 |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.