What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k median).

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townshend	Newfields
People
Population	1,538Lowest	2,023Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S.	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Townshend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S.	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townshend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Townshend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A	Newfields School District
High school in town	Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.