Compare towns
Colebrook vs Waterville vs Gorham
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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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 | Waterville | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,988 |
680Lowest |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.9 38% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Lowest 26% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest 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% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Waterville 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. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
| Waterville 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. |
$236,300±$15kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% 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. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,350Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Colebrook School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.4Lowest |
— | 9.0Highest |
| 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.