What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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	Townshend
People
Population	2,227Highest	1,538Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.
	Townshend 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%	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster and Townshend 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%	52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Townshend 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.	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Webster and Townshend 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	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Webster and Townshend 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.	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend 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%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend 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	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.1
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.