Compare towns
Colebrook vs Epping vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Epping | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,988 |
7,430Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.9 24% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,350Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±19.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Alstead 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Epping School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.4Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.