What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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

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	Whately	Webster
People
Population	1,499Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.3±6.7Highest 27% above U.S.	44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Whately and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Whately and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S.	$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S.
	Whately and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.	$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average
	Webster and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,027Lowest 61% above U.S.	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.7%±29Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Whately and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Whately	Merrimack Valley School District
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.