Compare towns
Newfane vs Orange 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 expensive homes ($284k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Orange | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
7,573Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Rochester 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfane and Orange 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Rochester 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. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.