What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Ashland has the most renters (35.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Webster	Ashland
People
Population	2,227Highest	2,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Webster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Webster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Ashland and Webster 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 NH: 40.6%	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Webster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Webster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 10% below NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Webster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 14% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Webster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.