What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most people working from home (9.9%).

Colebrook has the most kids (17.9% under 18).

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	Hampden	Colebrook
People
Population	4,946Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	50.9±3.3Lowest 31% above U.S.	52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampden and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,536±$16kLowest 29% above U.S.	$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,200±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Hampden and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$107Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S.
	Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,181Lowest 98% above U.S.	$6,211Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.9%±42.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±55Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colebrook and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#199 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Colebrook School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.