Compare towns
Newfane vs Lee 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 most homeowners (87.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
5,719Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Lee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Rochester 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8k 10% below U.S. |
| Lee and Rochester 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. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$929±$158Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Lee 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Lee | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.