Compare towns
Dover vs Lowell vs Worcester vs Weston
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 (34.2%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Lowell | Worcester | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
11,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
20%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Weston and Dover 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% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117k 138% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
| 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 66% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,085±$809 18% above MA |
| Dover and Weston 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 |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Weston 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #9 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Weston |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lowell High | South High Community | Weston High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
10.9 |
| 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.