Compare towns
Wakefield vs Upton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
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 | Wakefield | Upton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
8,189 |
5,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Upton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 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+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Blackstone Valley | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
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.