Compare towns
Dover vs Lee vs Newfane vs Wardsboro
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%).
Lee has the highest household income ($84k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Lee | Newfane | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
5,719Highest |
1,456 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Lee and Newfane 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% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wardsboro and Lee 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$62,000±$6k 23% below U.S. |
| Lee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$299,300±$47k 10% below U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,345 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Wardsboro 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Lee | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.