Compare towns
Colebrook vs Spencer vs Hartland
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 kids (17.9% under 18).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Hartland has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Spencer | Hartland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
12,008Highest |
1,840 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
48.8±4.9Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Colebrook and Spencer 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% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Spencer 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. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,375±$13kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Hartland 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±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$350,700±$21k 5% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Hartland 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. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,819±$478Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Hartland 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. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,633 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±54.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 29% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hartland and Spencer 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 | — | #261 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Spencer-E Brookfield | Hartland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.