Compare towns
Webster vs Dracut vs Boscawen
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 people working from home (17.1%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Dracut | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
32,574Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46±4.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut 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. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$77,328±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dracut 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 about the U.S. average |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$286,500±$23kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,265±$307Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,549Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Dracut 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Dracut | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.