Compare towns
Bolton vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | Lancaster | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
8,606Highest |
5,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
| Dover and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Dover 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Lowest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Nashoba | Dover · Dover-Sherborn |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | 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.