Compare towns
Newfane vs Ashburnham vs Dummerston vs Mount Holly
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 highest household income ($119k).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mount Holly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Mount Holly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
6,415Highest |
2,090 |
1,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
53.5±8.2 38% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Mount Holly 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% |
21.2%±5 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Mount Holly 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest 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% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashburnham and Newfane 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. |
$78,015±$19k 3% 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±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$296,900±$40k 11% 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±$238Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,534±$1k 9% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Mount Holly 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. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,926Lowest 26% 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% |
65.9%±65.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Mount Holly 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% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older 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. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
12.2%±6.5Lowest 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| 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.