Compare towns
Dorset vs Wakefield vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Rupert has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Dorset | Wakefield | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092 |
27,793Highest |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wakefield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Wakefield 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.