Compare towns
Lancaster vs Dover vs Pomfret vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Pomfret | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
5,930 |
4,317Lowest |
6,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Dover 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% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Pomfret 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% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Pomfret 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% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.9%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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Mendon 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. |
$108,476±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$132,256±$33k 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$409,100±$28kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$616,000±$37k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,840±$196 30% above 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. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$7,213 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Lancaster 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.7 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 | #39 of 149 in CT | #210 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Pomfret School District | Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.