Compare towns
Upton vs Acton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Upton | Acton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,189 |
24,155Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33kLowest 50% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Acton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.