Compare towns
Colebrook vs Gorham vs Highgate
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Gorham | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,988Lowest |
2,682 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham 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 37% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,200±$59k 42% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$895±$691Highest 37% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,350Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colebrook and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Colebrook 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | Gorham High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.4Lowest |
9.0 |
9.8Highest |
| 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.

