Compare towns
Boscawen vs Brighton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boscawen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Boscawen | Brighton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044Highest |
1,167Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±4.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Boscawen and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27k 4% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Webster and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,500±$23k 14% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307 10% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,549Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Brighton 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 | #51 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Brighton School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.