Compare towns
Boylston vs Dover vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Boylston | Dover | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
5,930Highest |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dover and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,266 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Hadley |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8 |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.