Compare towns
Dover vs Springfield vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Carlisle has the most kids (26.4% 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 | Springfield | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,308 |
1,122Lowest |
5,239Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Carlisle and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carlisle and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46k 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,313±$855Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Carlisle and Springfield 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Carlisle 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 | — | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Carlisle |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.