Compare towns
Colebrook vs Orange 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Alstead has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Orange | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,988Highest |
957Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Lowest 29% above 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% |
15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
| Orange and Alstead 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. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,350 39% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Colebrook 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% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Colebrook School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

