Compare towns

Webster vs Thompson 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

Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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.

MeasureWebsterThompsonWebster
People
Population
17,748Highest
9,337Lowest
12,228
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+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.
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%
21.8%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%
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%
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±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$63,837±$8kLowest
21% below U.S.
Thompson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$361,500±$12kHighest
9% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
$333,100±$14k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,228±$81Highest
13% below U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,198±$85
15% below U.S.
Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,999Highest
28% above U.S.
$3,822
23% above U.S.
$3,234Lowest
4% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.7%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
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%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%
45.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1963Highest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
8%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Thompson and Webster 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 #271 of 282 in MA
School district Webster Thompson School District —
High school in town Bartlett High School Tourtellotte Memorial High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Highest
7.9Lowest
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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.