Compare towns
Newfane vs Athol vs Dummerston
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 oldest population (median age 54.4).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Athol | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
12,011Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol 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. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Athol-Royalston | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.