Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dover vs Plainfield
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 expensive homes ($1340k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Lancaster | Dover | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
5,930Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below 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 | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.