What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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	Webster	Berlin
People
Population	17,748Highest	9,383Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S.
	Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S.	$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.	$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.	$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Highest 28% above U.S.	$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	62.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Berlin 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	#108 of 120 in NH
School district	Webster	Berlin School District
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	8.2Lowest
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.