Compare towns
Norfolk vs Sturbridge vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norfolk has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Norfolk | Sturbridge | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723 |
9,960Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.2±7.4 24% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norfolk and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,548±$16kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,900±$54kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$116Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$626Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Colebrook and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,065Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colebrook and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk and Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Norfolk School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| 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.