Population 17,649 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Webster
Household size in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.59 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.62 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.56 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Webster is a place of small households, averaging 2.34 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.26, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.3 | 39.1 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.7 | 40.8 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.1 | 41.1 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.0 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Webster skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.1, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.3, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the east.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.3% | 10.8% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.1% | 11.3% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.5% | 11.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +0.9 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in six households in Webster (16.5%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have a higher share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Webster
Renters in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.2% | 32.4% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.3% | 34.8% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.3% | 34.9% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.2% | 34.2% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Webster rent their homes (40.2%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 34.4% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share is down 3.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 8.5% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 6.8% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Webster: 7.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Worcester area. Vacancy is down 4.0 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1961 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1962 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1964 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1965 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Webster is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1962, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $766 | $930 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $778 | $1,008 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,036 | $1,155 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,270 | $1,549 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$504 | +$619 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in Webster pays $1,270 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $504 a month from 2006–10, a 66% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 25.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the north; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Webster
Bachelor's degrees in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.7% | 33.1% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.0% | 34.5% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 36.5% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.3% | 39.8% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +6.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Webster: 25.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 23 have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.0% | 88.4% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.8% | 89.4% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.4% | 90.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 90.9% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +10.7 pts | +2.5 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Webster is a bit above the national rate: 91.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Worcester area. The share with a diploma has risen 10.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Webster
| Period | Webster | Worcester area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 8.8% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 5.1% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Webster than nationally: unemployment was 7.2%, against 5.4%. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 18 have higher unemployment. Unemployment is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Webster compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Webster | 2.34 | 42.1 | 16.5% | 40.2% | 7.6% | 1962 | $1,270 | 25.3% | 91.6% | 7.2% |
| Dudley | 2.64 | 41.2 | 12.2% | 26.8% | 2.2% | 1968 | $1,120 | 24.9% | 90.5% | 4.6% |
| North Grosvenordale | 2.18 | 49.5 | 12.9% | 21.5% | 5.6% | 1962 | $1,047 | 21.5% | 89.1% | 5.1% |
| Quinebaug | 2.04 | 56.0 | 7.5% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 1962 | $958 | 12.8% | 79.1% | 18.6% |
| Oxford | 2.69 | 43.8 | 9.8% | 17.0% | 5.9% | 1965 | $1,123 | 30.5% | 92.0% | 6.0% |
| South Sutton | 2.77 | 48.6 | 2.2% | 1.9% | 10.8% | 1989 | $1,503 | 28.6% | 96.1% | 8.3% |
| Thompson | 2.34 | 51.0 | 9.2% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 1968 | $1,374 | 26.7% | 92.7% | 5.2% |
| East Woodstock | 2.56 | 50.3 | 6.3% | 8.6% | 12.3% | 1985 | $1,142 | 47.2% | 96.3% | 0.8% |
| Mechanicsville | 2.41 | 52.9 | 6.4% | 23.3% | 8.3% | 1957 | $1,356 | 35.3% | 95.8% | 0.0% |
| Douglas | 2.78 | 44.2 | 7.2% | 16.8% | 4.3% | 1976 | $1,482 | 41.8% | 97.6% | 4.5% |
| Charlton | 2.68 | 44.0 | 8.5% | 15.9% | 5.1% | 1986 | $1,569 | 40.7% | 93.8% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Centralia, IL · Trabuco Canyon, CA · Tillmans Corner, AL · Columbia, PA · Collingswood, NJ · Clanton, AL · Cinco Ranch, TX · Chickasha, OK · Chestnut Hill, MA · Chesnee, SC
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Webster. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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