Compare towns
Bolton vs Hampton vs Dover
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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k 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 | Hampton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
16,426Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 154% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kLowest 65% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Dover and Hampton 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. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Dover 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Winnacunnet High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.1 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.