Compare towns
Bolton vs Dalton vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Bolton | Dalton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
6,256Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
| Dalton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31k 98% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Central Berkshire | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Wahconah Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.9 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.