Compare towns
Dover vs Ashby vs Newfane vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Dover | Ashby | Newfane | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
3,211Highest |
1,456 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashby and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 45% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | North Middlesex | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.