What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Waterville has the most renters (51.2% rent).

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	Waterville
People
Population	2,227Lowest	17,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.	35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Webster and Waterville 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%	14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Waterville 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%	18.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Webster and Waterville 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%	30.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.	$53,580±$4kLowest 34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average	$184,600±$21kLowest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average	$978±$72Lowest 31% below U.S.
	Webster and Waterville 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.	$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	50.5%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Waterville 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%	20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	18 minLowest 32% below U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.6%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Webster and Waterville 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	—	#105 of 133 in ME
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Waterville Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
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.