Compare towns
Newfane vs Lancaster vs Dover
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 affordable homes ($284k median).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Lancaster | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,466 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% 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% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Dover 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Nashoba | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.