Compare towns

Newfane vs Ashburnham vs Dover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).

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.

MeasureNewfaneAshburnhamDover
People
Population
1,456Lowest
6,415Highest
1,466
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
40.7±6.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
53.5±8.3
38% 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
11.1%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
29.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.5%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dover and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
44%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Ashburnham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,719±$21k
17% below U.S.
$118,809±$11kHighest
47% above U.S.
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,200±$49kLowest
15% below U.S.
$390,700±$34kHighest
17% above U.S.
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
Ashburnham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,266±$238
10% below U.S.
$1,807±$1kHighest
28% above U.S.
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
Ashburnham and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,174
66% above U.S.
$6,046Highest
94% above U.S.
$4,510Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
100%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.1%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashburnham and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±7.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.2%±11.1
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 — #178 of 282 in MA —
School district West River Valley Union Education District #72A Ashburnham-Westminster River Valleys Unified School District #73
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.