What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).

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	Hallowell	Webster
People
Population	2,592Highest	2,227Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Hallowell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hallowell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,398±$10kLowest 15% below U.S.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$45kLowest 11% below U.S.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,867Lowest 24% above U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hallowell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.