What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phillipston has the most people working from home (9.2%).

Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).

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	Phillipston	Colebrook
People
Population	1,895Highest	1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	48.8±1.7Lowest 25% above U.S.	52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Colebrook and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colebrook and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,692±$14kLowest 17% above U.S.	$111,250±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Colebrook and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$372,400±$27kHighest 12% above U.S.	$342,800±$19kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Phillipston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average	$1,333±$626Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Phillipston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S.	$6,211Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.1%±55Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Phillipston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	34 minHighest 29% above U.S.
Work from home	9.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Phillipston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Colebrook School District
High school 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.