Compare towns
Newfane vs Athol 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 most expensive homes ($284k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Athol | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
12,011Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%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% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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. |
$72,676±$8kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Athol 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. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Athol 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. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Athol-Royalston | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.