Compare towns
Billerica vs Dover vs Pinehurst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Billerica has the most renters (20.6% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Pinehurst has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Billerica | Dover | Pinehurst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,003Highest |
5,930Lowest |
6,845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.6 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
| Dover and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,200±$8k 43% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$146,250±$27kLowest 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,000±$13kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$623,800±$22k 11% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,282±$173 30% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
| Dover and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,358 6% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.3%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Billerica and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
97.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #146 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | Billerica Memorial High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
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.