Compare towns
Newfane vs Gardner vs Dover vs Brookline
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%).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Gardner | Dover | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
21,148Highest |
1,466 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Brookline 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 17% below U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Dover and Gardner 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. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline 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. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Gardner 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Gardner | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.