What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).

Hallowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.9%).

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	Hallowell
People
Population	2,227Lowest	2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	50.3±7.9Highest 29% above U.S.
	Hallowell 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%	13.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Hallowell 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%	33.2%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hallowell 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±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.	$68,398±$10kLowest 15% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average	$295,300±$45kLowest 11% below U.S.
	Webster and Hallowell 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	$890±$175Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Webster and Hallowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.	$3,867Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.1%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Hallowell 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%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hallowell and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	RSU 02
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.