Compare towns

Webster vs Ware 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 highest household income ($107k).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Boscawen has the oldest population (median age 46).

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.

MeasureWebsterWareBoscawen
People
Population
2,227Lowest
6,369Highest
4,044
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±7.6
15% above U.S.
39.8±6Lowest
about the U.S. average
46±4.2Highest
18% above U.S.
Boscawen and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±8
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Ware and Webster 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%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ware 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.
$45,158±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$77,328±$27k
4% below U.S.
Webster and Boscawen 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
$253,400±$31kLowest
24% below U.S.
$286,500±$23k
14% below U.S.
Webster and Boscawen 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
$1,039±$104Lowest
26% 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.
$3,408Lowest
9% above U.S.
$6,549Highest
110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.6%±71
U.S.: 51.1%
64.5%±17.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±21Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware 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%
14.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
17%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
17.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Webster and Ware 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 — #267 of 282 in MA #51 of 120 in NH
School district Merrimack Valley School District — Merrimack Valley School District
High school 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.