Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Blandford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most renters (17.5% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Blandford has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Chester | Dover | Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240 |
5,930Highest |
1,156Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA |
| Blandford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$91,902±$13k 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$287,900±$18k 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,047±$459Lowest 41% below MA |
| Dover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,641Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
29.4%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
96.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.8%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.