Compare towns

Upton vs Chilmark 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).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).

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.

MeasureUptonChilmarkDover
People
Population
8,189Highest
1,578Lowest
5,930
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.8
16% above MA
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
44.9±2.3Lowest
12% above MA
Chilmark and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.2%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
16.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
26%±5.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dover and Upton 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%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
68.1%
MA: 47.3%
84.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±2.6
MA: 7.9%
7.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Dover and Chilmark 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
$168,750±$28k
62% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$576,700±$41kLowest
about the MA average
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
237% above MA
$1,340,300±$117k
138% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
$2,750±$2k
56% above MA
$2,917±$2kHighest
66% above MA
Dover and Chilmark 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
30.8%±59.9
MA: 51.8%
20%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Upton and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%
MA: 10%
4.1%Highest
MA: 10%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
22% above MA
32 minLowest
8% above MA
35 min
19% above MA
Work from home
22.8%±5.3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±11
MA: 18.6%
34.2%±6.4Highest
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
School district Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Up-Island Regional Dover · Dover-Sherborn
High school in town Blackstone Valley None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
—
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.