Compare towns

Dover vs Springfield vs Rochester

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Springfield has the most kids (15.1% under 18).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).

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.

MeasureDoverSpringfieldRochester
People
Population
1,466Highest
1,122Lowest
1,389
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
38% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Lowest
32% above U.S.
53.3±7.6
37% above U.S.
Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
10.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Springfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.5%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.4%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
35% below U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$72,676±$8k
10% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55k
about the U.S. average
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$253,600±$81kLowest
24% below U.S.
Springfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
53% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Highest
22% below U.S.
$929±$158
34% below U.S.
Springfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510
45% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,977Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.4%±27.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
40.8%±27.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 — Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.