Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs New Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
New Bedford has the most renters (59.7% 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 | Worcester | Dover | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
5,930Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,338Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | South High Community | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.