What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most expensive homes ($362k median).

Thomaston has the highest household income ($103k).

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	Thomaston
People
Population	17,748Highest	7,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	41.5±7.7Highest 7% above U.S.
	Thomaston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Thomaston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S.	$103,218±$15kHighest 28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.	$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Webster and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S.	$5,915Highest 90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thomaston and Webster 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%	2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Thomaston 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	#106 of 149 in CT
School district	Webster	Thomaston School District
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.7Lowest
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.