Compare towns
Colebrook vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($343k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Norfolk has the most renters (18.9% rent).
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 | Needham | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Norfolk 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,211 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,065Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | — | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.