Compare towns

Worcester vs Douglas vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureWorcesterDouglasWindham
People
Population
831
9,207Highest
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
Worcester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$470,600±$29kHighest
41% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
—
Douglas and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,338Highest
103% above U.S.
$5,951
91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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 — #177 of 282 in MA —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Douglas —
High school in town None in town Douglas High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.