What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

Dalton has the highest household income ($81k).

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	Dalton
People
Population	1,988Highest	916Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-4.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH	44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average
	Colebrook and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Dalton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	20.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6%
	Dalton and Colebrook 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	$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH
	Dalton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,200±$59kHighest 52% below NH	$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH
	Colebrook and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH	$900±$825Highest 40% below NH
	Dalton 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	$3,561Lowest 47% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±19.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Dalton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	19.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 21% below NH	20 minLowest 26% below NH
Work from home	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	5.9%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Dalton 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	—
High school in town	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)	—
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.