What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k median).

Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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	Colebrook	Halifax
People
Population	1,494Lowest	7,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S.	41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Halifax and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colebrook and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colebrook and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,250±$17kLowest 38% above U.S.	$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S.
	Halifax 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±$19kLowest 3% above U.S.	$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S.
	Halifax and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,211Lowest 99% above U.S.	$6,840Highest 119% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Halifax and Colebrook 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%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 29% above U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Halifax and Colebrook 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	—	#120 of 282 in MA
School district	Colebrook School District	Halifax
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.