What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	Somerville
People
Population	2,227Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.	33.5±11.3Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Webster and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Lowest U.S.: 22%	28.8%±7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Somerville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Somerville 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.	$71,250±$15kLowest 12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average	$218,100±$41kLowest 34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,583±$265Highest 12% above U.S.
	Somerville and Webster 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.	$2,505Lowest 20% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	65.7%±58.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Somerville and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	RSU 12
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.