What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).

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	Washburn	Webster
People
Population	1,355Lowest	17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Washburn and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Washburn and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washburn 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.	$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.	$3,999Highest 28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7% U.S.: 12.5%	12.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	9.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washburn 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	—	#271 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 45/MSAD 45	Webster
High school in town	Washburn District High School	Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	11.6Lowest
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.