What stands out worked out from the figures below

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	Somerville	Webster
People
Population	837Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	33.5±11.3Lowest 14% below U.S.	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Webster and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.8%±7Highest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Somerville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,250±$15kLowest 12% below U.S.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$218,100±$41kLowest 34% below U.S.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$265Highest 12% above U.S.	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average
	Somerville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,505Lowest 20% below U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.7%±58.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somerville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	3.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	RSU 12	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.