Compare towns
Newfane vs Ashburnham vs Dummerston vs Fairlee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Newfane | Ashburnham | Dummerston | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
6,415Highest |
2,090 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee 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% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston 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. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Dummerston 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| 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 | 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.