Compare towns
Dover vs Everett vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k 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 | Dover | Everett | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308Lowest |
50,045 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| 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.