What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).

Hinsdale has the most affordable homes ($201k median).

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	Colchester	Hinsdale
People
Population	17,648Highest	3,997Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average	53.3±10.6Highest 37% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	15%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Colchester and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hinsdale and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above U.S.	$69,191±$5kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,400±$25kHighest 19% above U.S.	$200,700±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$122Highest 4% above U.S.	$1,050±$409Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Colchester and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,471Highest 75% above U.S.	$4,899Lowest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hinsdale and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Colchester and Hinsdale 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	#18 of 70 in VT	#110 of 120 in NH
School district	Colchester School District	Hinsdale School District
High school in town	Colchester High School	Hinsdale High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.