Compare towns
Dover vs Lancaster 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 the most kids (26% under 18).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Upton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
8,606Highest |
8,189 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% 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 | 26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 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+ | 16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% 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 | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
— |
| 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 67% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.