Compare towns
Rupert vs Dover vs Mount Tabor vs Pawlet
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Mount Tabor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k 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 | Mount Tabor | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
5,930Highest |
304Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Tabor and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Pawlet 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. |
— | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$420,500±$76k 26% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,143±$367 52% above U.S. |
$1,153±$215Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
$3,924Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pawlet 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Pawlet 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.