Compare towns
Colebrook vs Northbridge vs Putnam
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%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
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 | Northbridge | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Putnam 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Northbridge | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.