Compare towns
Colebrook vs Hampton vs Sturbridge 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($132k).
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 | Sturbridge | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
1,647 |
2,443Highest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Lowest 23% 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% |
18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Sturbridge 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% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest 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% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Sturbridge 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. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,410Highest 106% 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%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest 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% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1958 22 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. |
32 min 20% 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% |
14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Hampton 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 | — | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Hampton School District | — | Norfolk School District |
| High school 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.