Compare towns
Dover vs Ludlow vs Springfield vs Sherborn
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 expensive homes ($1340k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
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 | Ludlow | Springfield | Sherborn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,930 |
20,904 |
154,749Highest |
4,427Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
| Dover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Dover 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% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
82.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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 |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,338±$316 33% above MA |
| Dover and Sherborn 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 |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Ludlow 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% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #53 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Ludlow | Springfield | Sherborn |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Ludlow Senior High | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
12.2Highest |
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| 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.