Compare towns
Colebrook vs Dedham vs Hampton vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Colebrook | Dedham | Hampton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,647 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 99% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,065 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Dedham | Hampton School District | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.