Compare towns
Morris vs Gardner vs Colebrook vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morris has the most people working from home (18.4%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k 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 | Morris | Gardner | Colebrook | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,164 |
21,148Highest |
1,494Lowest |
3,423 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 52.8±6.5Highest 36% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.1±5 34% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
| Morris and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,000±$60k 19% above U.S. |
$301,600±$20kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$134 15% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,273 69% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±31.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morris and Bethlehem 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 20 | Gardner | Colebrook School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.