What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Webster	Walden
People
Population	2,227Highest	1,037Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2% U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.	48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S.
	Walden 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%	14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Walden 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%	20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Walden 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walden 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.	$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Webster and Walden 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	$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average	$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Webster and Walden 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.	$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walden 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%	9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	93.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Walden 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	Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
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.