Compare towns
Boscawen vs Lancaster vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boscawen has the oldest population (median age 46).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044Highest |
3,216 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
| Boscawen and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Webster and Lancaster 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 22% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
| 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 29% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
| 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 15% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.