Compare towns
Colebrook vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Hampton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,647 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3%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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Lancaster 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$7,235Highest 132% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%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% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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. |
32 min 20% 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% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Norfolk 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Nashoba | Hampton School District | 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.