Compare towns
Bolton vs Dedham vs Dover vs Berlin
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%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Dedham | Dover | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
25,237Highest |
5,930 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,420±$933 37% above MA |
| Dover and Berlin 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 |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 24 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dedham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Dedham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.