Compare towns
Orange vs Colebrook vs Topsham
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).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Orange | Colebrook | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,988Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
53.7±4.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colebrook and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Colebrook and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$192,200±$59kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56kHighest 33% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
| Orange and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,350Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,006 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±19.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Colebrook School District | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

