What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

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

Measure	Sullivan	Webster
People
Population	1,246Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±15Highest 21% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Sullivan and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sullivan and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sullivan and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 24	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5	—
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.