Compare towns
Colebrook vs Hampton vs Plainville 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 highest household income ($111k).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Plainville has the most renters (29.6% rent).
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 | Hampton | Plainville | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
1,647 |
9,943Highest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +20.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Lowest 11% 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Plainville 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% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest 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% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
$6,065 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 min 10% 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% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Plainville 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 | — | — | #102 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Hampton School District | Plainville | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.