What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washington has the most people working from home (20.1%).

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	Washington
People
Population	17,748Highest	3,676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Washington 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%	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washington 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%	53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washington and Webster 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.	$101,549±$16kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S.	$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,204±$264Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Webster and Washington 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.	$4,709Highest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Washington 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#271 of 282 in MA	#17 of 149 in CT
School district	Webster	Regional School District 12
High school in town	Bartlett High School	Shepaug Valley School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	9.1Lowest
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.