What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dresden	Webster
People
Population	1,645Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±7.9Highest 42% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Dresden and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dresden and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,844±$22kLowest 7% below U.S.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Webster and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,100±$29kLowest 28% below U.S.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$502Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,500Lowest 20% below U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	6.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	RSU 02	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.