Compare towns
Colebrook vs Middlesex vs Putney vs Alstead
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 affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,988 |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,200±$59kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$238 47% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,350Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.