Compare towns

Newfane vs Townsend vs Brookline

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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

MeasureNewfaneTownsendBrookline
People
Population
1,456
9,100Highest
531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.4±3.9Highest
40% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
Kids under 18
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
Townsend and Brookline 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend and Brookline 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.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$284,200±$49kLowest
15% below U.S.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,266±$238Lowest
10% below U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
Brookline and Townsend 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.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
$5,000Lowest
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfane and Townsend 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%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfane and Brookline 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 — #136 of 282 in MA —
School district West River Valley Union Education District #72A North Middlesex —
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1
—
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.