Compare towns
Webster vs Westminster vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
8,374Lowest |
12,579 |
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±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±4.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$106,331±$22k 32% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% 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±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,843±$268Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$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 | $3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% 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% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9% 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% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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 |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windsor Locks School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Oakmont Regional High School | Windsor Locks High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.6Highest |
8.9 |
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.