Compare towns
Webster vs Dalton vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Middleton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Dalton | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Highest |
916Lowest |
1,595 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
44.5±12.9 about the NH average |
43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Webster and Dalton 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% |
20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
23.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Middleton 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 |
$81,429±$36kLowest 18% below NH |
$101,696±$8k about the NH average |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
$312,300±$27k 22% below NH |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$900±$825Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
| Middleton and Webster 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 |
$3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
$5,504 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±83.7 NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% NH: 7.2% |
19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.