Compare towns
Dover vs Rochester vs Windham 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Windham has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
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 | Dover | Rochester | Windham | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,389Lowest |
19,188Highest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% 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% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 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% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Windham 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. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Windham 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. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 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% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5 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 | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | RSU 14 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.