Compare towns
Dover vs Lancaster vs Pomfret
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 ($1340k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930 |
8,606Highest |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Pomfret 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster 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. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.