Compare towns
Newfane vs Ware vs Dover 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%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Mendon has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Ware | Dover | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
10,048Highest |
1,466 |
1,113Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5 37% above U.S. |
| Newfane and Dover 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Mendon 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. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$100,524±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$357,000±$44kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Dover 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
| Newfane and Mendon 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. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,510 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% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dover 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Ware | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.