Compare towns
Webster vs Worcester vs Webster
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 homeowners (59.8%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748 |
207,055Highest |
12,228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
| Webster and Webster 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Webster 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Webster and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Worcester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
45.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.