Compare towns
Newfane vs Gorham vs Dover 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 oldest population (median age 54.4).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Gorham | Dover | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
18,300Highest |
1,466 |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Dover 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,510 45% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Newfane 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Gorham Public Schools | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.