Signals
Webster
Fitchburg
Opportunity
52 · Bottom 40%
vs46 · Bottom 29%
Climate
61 · Bottom 17%
vs60 · Bottom 14%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 16%
vs85 · Top 16%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 28%
vs77 · Bottom 44%
Schools
29 · Bottom 22%
vs25 · Bottom 17%
Access
85 · Bottom 29%
vs86 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
58 · Bottom 44%
vs55 · Bottom 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Webster | Fitchburg | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,228 | 41,798 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,837 | $73,040 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,043 | $37,302 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,116/sq mi | 1,502/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $333,100 | $336,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,198 | $1,222 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 45.5% | 54.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.3% | -1.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 25.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 15.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 80°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 17°F | 16°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 48.3" | 43.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 32 mi | 30 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 28.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.2 | 36.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.14 | 11.95 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 17.8% | 12.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.2% | 29.2% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Webster
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Fitchburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Webster, MA · Fitchburg, MA · How this is calculated: methodology