Compare towns
Springfield vs Dover vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Springfield | Dover | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
5,930Highest |
1,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$81,563±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$267,300±$23kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,243±$163 12% below U.S. |
| Dover and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Grafton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.