Compare towns
Webster vs Waterville 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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.
| Measure | Webster | Waterville | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
17,077Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
35.5±2.5Lowest 9% below U.S. |
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%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Boscawen 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% |
18.3%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$53,580±$4kLowest 34% 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 |
$184,600±$21kLowest 45% 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 |
$978±$72Lowest 31% 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. |
$2,755Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$6,549Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±21Lowest 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% |
17% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest 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 | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Waterville Public Schools | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Waterville Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.