Compare towns
Newfane vs Lancaster vs Townshend
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 homeowners (87.2%).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Townshend has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456Lowest |
8,606Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Lancaster 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Lowest 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.