Compare towns
Rupert vs Dover vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Rupert | Dover | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
5,930Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ira and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.