Compare towns
Dover vs Middlefield 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%).
Middlefield has the highest household income ($104k).
Newfane has the most kids (11.1% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Newfane | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466Highest |
352Lowest |
1,456 |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
56.9±3.7Highest 46% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfane and Rochester 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% |
28.7%±8.5Lowest 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% |
31.8%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% |
2.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield 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. |
$103,750±$23kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$332,800±$48k about the U.S. average |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Middlefield 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. |
$2,625±$1kHighest 86% above U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Middlefield and Newfane 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. |
$4,926 58% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2% 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% |
94.1%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. |
1971 9 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. |
30 minHighest 13% 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% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 |
| 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.



