Compare towns
Dover vs Lancaster vs Putnam vs Weston
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 homeowners (97.9%).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k 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 | Lancaster | Putnam | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
8,606 |
9,292 |
11,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.9±2.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Weston and Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weston 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 210% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 303% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 409% above U.S. |
| Weston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,085±$809 48% above 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weston and Lancaster 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±5.2 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba | Putnam School District | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Putnam High School | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.