What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Rowley
People
Population	2,227Lowest	6,251Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	50±6.3Highest 29% above U.S.
	Rowley 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%	19.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Rowley 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%	21.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rowley 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 U.S.: 35.7%	56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rowley 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±$14kLowest 33% above U.S.	$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S.
	Rowley 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±$30kLowest about the U.S. average	$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S.
	Rowley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S.	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rowley and Webster 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%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Rowley 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	—	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Triton
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.