What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).

Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).

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	Lancaster	Webster
People
Population	2,230Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average	39.9±2.9Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lancaster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	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	$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S.	$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S.
	Webster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S.	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.
	Webster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,225Highest 35% above U.S.	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster and Webster 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	#107 of 120 in NH	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Webster
High school in town	—	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.6
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.