Compare towns
Colebrook vs Ware vs Morris 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Morris has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Ware | Morris | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,494Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,164 |
1,723 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.1±5 34% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
| Morris and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Colebrook 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Norfolk 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Morris 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. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$91,548±$16k 13% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Morris 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$430,900±$54kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$116 16% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Morris 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,273 69% above U.S. |
$6,065 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Morris 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 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 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Morris 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Ware | Regional School District 20 | Norfolk School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.