Compare towns

Colebrook vs Williston 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 most renters (30.6% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.

MeasureColebrookWillistonGorham
People
Population
1,988Lowest
10,144Highest
2,682
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.7±4.9
38% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Lowest
17% 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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williston 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%
21%±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%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham and Williston 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.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$61,275±$7k
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,200±$59k
42% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$750±$238Lowest
47% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$838±$83
41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,350
39% above U.S.
$5,592Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,334Lowest
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.3%±19.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Colebrook and Williston 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
20% below U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
5.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #11 of 70 in VT #57 of 120 in NH
School district Colebrook School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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.