Compare towns
Newfane vs Ashby vs Dover 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%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Ashby | Dover | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
3,211Highest |
1,466 |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
50.5±3Lowest 30% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% 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%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Fairlee 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% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Dover 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% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Ashby 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. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Ashby 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. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 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% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | North Middlesex | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.