Compare towns
Worcester vs Dover vs Windham vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Windham | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831 |
2,308Highest |
594Lowest |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.5±11.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Montgomery and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Montgomery and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$323,200±$45k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Highest 28% below U.S. |
— | — | $868±$209Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,326Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.6%±68 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.