Compare towns
Newfane vs Ashburnham 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
Newfane has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
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 | Newfane | Ashburnham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
6,415Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
49%Highest 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% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% 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. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Rochester 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #178 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Ashburnham-Westminster | 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 | 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.