Compare towns
Webster vs Ashby vs Warner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Warner has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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.
| Measure | Webster | Ashby | Warner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
3,211Highest |
2,959 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.7±4Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$94,022±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | North Middlesex | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.