What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Colebrook	Waterville
People
Population	1,988Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±4.9Highest 38% above U.S.	49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Waterville 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%	20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waterville 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%	14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waterville 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.	$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below U.S.
	Waterville 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.	$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S.
	Waterville and Colebrook 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.	$1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,350Highest 39% above U.S.	$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.3%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colebrook and Waterville 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%	4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waterville 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	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
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 History	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.