Compare towns
Bolton vs Epping vs Dover vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Hudson has the most renters (32% 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 | Epping | Dover | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
7,430 |
5,930 |
15,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Epping 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 154% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$90,524±$9kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$473,300±$15k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,397±$83Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover and Epping 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,597Lowest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.4%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Epping School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Epping High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.