Compare towns
Newfane vs Durham vs Rochester 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Rochester | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
15,080Highest |
1,389Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Durham and Dummerston 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. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Durham and Dummerston 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Rochester 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Oyster River Coop School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 51 photos → | 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.