What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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	Washburn
People
Population	17,748Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	48.2±7.7Highest 24% 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	19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.7%±3.5Highest 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+	19.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.7Highest 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+	25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	26%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.4Lowest 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	$72,895±$6kHighest 10% below U.S.	$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S.	$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.	$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,999Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±24.7Lowest 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	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±3.9Highest 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	Webster	RSU 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.0Highest
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.