Compare towns
Warner vs Webster vs Lancaster vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warner has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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.
| Measure | Warner | Webster | Lancaster | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,959 |
17,748Highest |
8,606 |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,100±$22kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$123Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632 36% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Salisbury 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kearsarge Regional School District | Webster | Nashoba | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.