Compare towns
Dover vs Dedham vs Upton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Dover has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Dover | Dedham | Upton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
25,237Highest |
8,189 |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Dover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Blackstone Valley | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
11.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.