Compare towns
Leominster vs Dover vs Princeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leominster has the most renters (37.7% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Princeton has the oldest population (median age 46.1).
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 | Leominster | Dover | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 43,909Highest |
5,930 |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.2Lowest 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Princeton and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,816±$7kLowest 19% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $380,400±$14kLowest 32% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,354±$50 23% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Dover and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,256Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,633 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Princeton 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 | #233 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leominster | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Leominster High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.