Compare towns
Bedford vs Dover vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the most affordable homes ($899k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Dover has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Bedford | Dover | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
2,308Lowest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bedford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Dover and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Lowest 49% above MA |
— | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Dover 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | — | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Bedford High | — | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.