Compare towns
Ashby vs Concord vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Ashby | Concord | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
44,375Highest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Concord and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Dover and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #89 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Concord High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
12.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.