Compare towns
Bolton vs Dover vs Sutton vs Upton
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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Upton has the most renters (13.3% rent).
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 | Dover | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
5,930 |
9,452Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 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% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Sutton 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.