Compare towns
Webster vs Derry vs Boscawen
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 homeowners (96%).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k 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.
| Measure | Webster | Derry | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
34,116Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Derry 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±$30k 16% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Derry and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Derry 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.