Compare towns

Rumney vs Dover vs Lincoln

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 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.

MeasureRumneyDoverLincoln
People
Population
1,458Lowest
5,930Highest
1,461
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±2.3Lowest
14% above U.S.
44.9±2.3
15% above U.S.
46.8±10.1Highest
20% above U.S.
Lincoln and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Dover and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.1%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.3%±7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lincoln and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
84.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,444±$21k
about the U.S. average
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$70,625±$54kLowest
13% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$309,800±$37kLowest
7% below U.S.
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
303% above U.S.
$342,000±$38k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,064±$100Lowest
25% below U.S.
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
$1,143±$498
19% below U.S.
Dover and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,716
51% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$2,984Lowest
4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.1%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lincoln and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
24% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #1 of 282 in MA —
School district Rumney School District Dover · Dover-Sherborn Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High Lin-Wood Public School (High)
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Highest
7.4Lowest
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.