Compare towns
Webster vs Westminster vs Plainfield vs Douglas
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 renters (40.2% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Douglas has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Westminster | Plainfield | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
8,374Lowest |
15,141 |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster 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% |
26%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Plainfield 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. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$422,000±$36k 27% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Westminster 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster | Plainfield School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Plainfield High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.6Highest |
10.3 |
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.