Compare towns
Mendon vs Dover vs Upton vs Hopedale
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Hopedale has the most affordable homes ($425k 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 | Mendon | Dover | Upton | Hopedale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,325 |
5,930 |
8,189Highest |
4,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
41.5±7.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Upton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
21%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hopedale and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.4%±4.6 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$107,909±$18kLowest 4% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$424,800±$44kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,805±$233 about the MA average |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,213 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,023Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
48.3%±31.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
11%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Upton 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #125 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mendon-Upton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.