What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has the most expensive homes ($339k 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	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Washburn 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%	19.4%±1.3Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washburn and Webster 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.	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±24.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 45/MSAD 45	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	Washburn District High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0	—
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.