Compare towns
Athol vs Dummerston vs Newfane
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Athol | Dummerston | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Highest |
2,090 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Athol High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.