Compare towns

Newfane vs Lancaster vs Dummerston vs Mendon

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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureNewfaneLancasterDummerstonMendon
People
Population
1,456
3,216Highest
2,090
1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
45.5±6.9Lowest
17% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
53.4±10.5
37% above U.S.
Newfane and Mendon 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%
20.9%±6.1
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Newfane and Mendon 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%
30.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mendon and Lancaster 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.
$68,911±$23k
15% below U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$100,524±$23k
25% above U.S.
Dummerston and Mendon 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.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$357,000±$44kHighest
7% above U.S.
Mendon and Dummerston 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.
$1,019±$263Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,230±$651
13% below U.S.
Dummerston and Newfane 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.
$4,226Lowest
35% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$5,342Highest
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
88.6%±42.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon 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%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
13% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane and Dummerston 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 — #107 of 120 in NH — —
School district West River Valley Union Education District #72A White Mountains Regional School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
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 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.