Compare towns
Upton vs Chilmark vs Dover vs Milford
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Milford has the most renters (34.8% rent).
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 | Chilmark | Dover | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189 |
1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
30,431Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
38.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Chilmark and Dover 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$96,365±$4kLowest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$476,700±$12kLowest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
— | $1,909±$137 8% above MA |
| Chilmark and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 40% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,869 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Milford 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
7.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
32 minLowest 8% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Up-Island Regional | — | Milford |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | — | Milford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.