Compare towns
Webster vs Saco 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 homeowners (96%).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
20,819Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
46±4.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Boscawen and Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Boscawen 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$77,328±$27kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Webster and Saco 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 |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$286,500±$23kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,265±$307 10% below U.S. |
| Webster and Boscawen 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. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,549Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and Webster 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Saco Public Schools | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.