Compare towns

Worcester vs Dover vs St. George

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 ($1340k median).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterDoverSt. George
People
Population
831
5,930Highest
812Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
44.9±2.3
15% above U.S.
44.7±13.4Lowest
15% above U.S.
Worcester 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%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
25.6%±7
U.S.: 22%
Dover and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Worcester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
84.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±3.9Lowest
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±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$109,464±$34k
36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
303% above U.S.
$376,800±$50k
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
$1,394±$132
about the U.S. average
Dover and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
42% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,514
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
96%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. George and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
9% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Dover and St. George 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 — #1 of 282 in MA —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Dover · Dover-Sherborn —
High school in town None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High —
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.