Compare towns

Mendon vs Upton vs Dover vs Southampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Southampton has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureMendonUptonDoverSouthampton
People
Population
6,325
8,189Highest
5,930Lowest
6,230
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.7%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±4.4
10% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
44.9±2.3
12% above MA
43.4±3.5Lowest
9% 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%±6.2
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Upton 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%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
16.7%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±4.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
Southampton 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%
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±2.2
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
$155,508±$33k
50% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$123,125±$23kLowest
18% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$616,000±$37k
10% above MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
138% above MA
$452,300±$25kLowest
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,840±$196
4% above MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
—
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
$8,376
40% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$5,470Lowest
9% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
78.7%±26Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
26.2%±18.4
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%
3.2%
MA: 10%
2.7%
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.9%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
90.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
21 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1983
19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
4% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
22 minLowest
23% below MA
Work from home
15.1%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.2%±3.6Lowest
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 #46 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA #205 of 282 in MA
School district Mendon-Upton Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Dover · Dover-Sherborn Southampton
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Dover-Sherborn Regional High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Highest
9.8Lowest
—
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.