Compare towns
Barnard vs Dover vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Barnard | Dover | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
5,930Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Dover and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1k 68% above U.S. |
| Dover and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.