Compare towns
Webster vs Topsfield vs Douglas
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 renters (40.2% rent).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Topsfield | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
6,564Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
| Douglas and Topsfield 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% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% 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 | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Topsfield 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Topsfield | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.