What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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	Orwell
People
Population	1,988Highest	1,294Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±4.9Highest 38% above U.S.	47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orwell 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%	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colebrook and Orwell 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%	22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orwell 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.	$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.
	Orwell 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±$59kLowest 42% below U.S.	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S.	$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,350Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±19.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell 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%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell 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	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.