What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bernardston has the most people working from home (12.7%).

Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Bernardston	Colebrook
People
Population	2,164Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49±3.2Lowest 26% above U.S.	52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Colebrook and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colebrook and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colebrook and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,940±$10kLowest about the U.S. average	$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$332,000±$15kLowest about the U.S. average	$342,800±$19kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,283±$553Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S.
	Colebrook and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,516Lowest 45% above U.S.	$6,211Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±55Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colebrook and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bernardston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Pioneer Valley	Colebrook 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.