What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the most kids (17.9% under 18).

Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Colebrook	Petersham
People
Population	1,494Highest	1,185Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.2% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±5Lowest 34% above U.S.	56.3±2.7Highest 45% above U.S.
	Petersham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	12.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Colebrook and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Petersham 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%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colebrook and Petersham 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.	$110,750±$20kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S.	$392,400±$20kHighest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,679±$441Highest 19% above U.S.
	Petersham 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.	$4,636Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±55Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colebrook and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1962Highest 18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 29% above U.S.	39 minHighest 46% above U.S.
Work from home	7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Petersham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Colebrook School District	Petersham
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.