What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).

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	Bridgewater
People
Population	1,988Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±4.9Lowest 24% above NH	58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH
	Bridgewater and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2%	10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Colebrook and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bridgewater and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Colebrook and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH	$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH	$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH	$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH
	Bridgewater and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,350Highest 35% below NH	$2,823Lowest 58% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Colebrook and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	79.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bridgewater 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	Newfound Area School District
High school in town	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.