Compare towns

Williamsburg vs Webster vs Whately

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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.

MeasureWilliamsburgWebsterWhately
People
Population
2,694
17,748Highest
1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50±2.4Highest
25% above MA
39.9±2.9Lowest
about the MA average
49.3±6.7
23% above MA
Williamsburg and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±4
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Webster and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
24.5%±6.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Whately and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Williamsburg and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,792±$21k
about the MA average
$72,895±$6kLowest
30% below MA
$116,563±$15kHighest
12% above MA
Whately and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$403,100±$37k
28% below MA
$361,500±$12kLowest
36% below MA
$431,500±$22kHighest
23% below MA
Whately and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$228Highest
19% below MA
$1,228±$81
30% below MA
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
Williamsburg and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,761Highest
4% below MA
$3,999Lowest
33% below MA
$5,027
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61%±28Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Williamsburg and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
12.7%Highest
MA: 10%
5.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.2%
MA: 62.5%
59.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
13% below MA
31 minHighest
5% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
26.5%±6.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5
MA: 18.6%
Williamsburg and Whately 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 —
School district Williamsburg Webster Whately
High school in town None in town Bartlett High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
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.