Compare towns
Newfane vs Brookline vs Dover vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Brookline | Dover | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
531Lowest |
1,466Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brookline 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±$21k 18% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Mendon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.