Compare towns
Newfane vs Athol vs Dummerston vs Mendon
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%).
Athol has the most renters (27.6% rent).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
12,011Highest |
2,090 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest 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. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 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% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Mendon 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% |
49.4% 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% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Mendon 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. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon 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. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Dummerston 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. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,342Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Athol 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% |
8.2% 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% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 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 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% 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% |
22.5%±8.9 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 | 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.