What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Troy	Webster
People
Population	1,749Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.
	Webster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,938±$11kLowest 9% above U.S.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Webster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Troy School District	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.