Compare towns
Sutton vs Mendon vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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 | Sutton | Mendon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
6,325 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Dover and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest 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 | $147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,840±$196 4% above 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 | $6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #105 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sutton | Mendon-Upton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.